Development of Electrochromic Devices

Electrochromic devices (ECD) are systems of considerable commercial interest due to their controllable transmission, absorption and/or reflectance. For instance, these devices are mainly applied to glare attenuation in automobile rearview mirrors and also in some smart windows that can regulate the solar gains of buildings. Other possible applications of ECDs include solar cells, small-and large-area flat panel displays, frozen food monitoring and document authentication also are of great interest. Over the past 20 years almost 1000 patents and 1500 papers in journals and proceedings have been published with the keyword ""electrochromic windows"". Most of these documents report on materials for electrochromic devices and only some of them about complete systems. This paper describes the first patents and some of the recent ones on ECDs, whose development is possible due to the advances in nanotechnology.

Simple telemedicine for developing regions: Camera phones and paper-based microfluidic devices for real-time, off-site diagnosis

This article describes a prototype system for quantifying bioassays and for exchanging the results of the assays digitally with physicians located off-site. The system uses paper-based microfluidic devices for running multiple assays simultaneously, camera phones or portable scanners for digitizing the intensity of color associated with each colorimetric assay, and established communications infrastructure for transferring the digital information from the assay site to an off-site laboratory for analysis by a trained medical professional; the diagnosis then can be returned directly to the healthcare provider in the field. The microfluidic devices were fabricated in paper using photolithography and were functionalized with reagents for colorimetric assays. The results of the assays were quantified by comparing the intensities of the color developed in each assay with those of calibration curves. An example of this system quantified clinically relevant concentrations of glucose and protein in artificial urine. The combination of patterned paper, a portable method for obtaining digital images, and a method for exchanging results of the assays with off-site diagnosticians offers new opportunities for inexpensive monitoring of health, especially in situations that require physicians to travel to patients (e.g., in the developing world, in emergency management, and during field operations by the military) to obtain diagnostic information that might be obtained more effectively by less valuable personnel.

Diagnostics for the Developing World: Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (mu PADs) are a new class of point-of-care diagnostic devices that are inexpensive, easy to use, and designed specifically for use in developing countries. (To listen to a podcast about this feature, please go to the Analytical Chemistry multimedia page at pubs.acs.org/page/ancham/audio/index.html.)

Pedagogical Aspects of Using Mobile Devices in the Biology Classroom

The ubiquity and power of personal digital devices make them attractive tools for STEM instructors who would like to stimulate active learning. These devices offer both abundant pedagogical opportunities and worrisome challenges. We will discuss our two years of experience in using mobile devices to teach biology in a community college setting, as well as our observations on the best ways to organize digital-based activities to facilitate student active learning.

Interaction and Persuasion:An analysis of the use of rhetorical devices in Gordon Brown's speech to the Labour Party Conference, on September 25, 2006

This essay has identified and analysed rhetorical devices in Gordon Brown’s speech delivered at the Labour Party conference on September 25, 2006. The aim of the study was to identify specific rhetorical devices which are described as interactional resources, analyse their uses and discuss possible effects that they may have when included in a political speech. The results are based on my own interpretations but are supported by information provided in current literature by analysts and researchers of rhetoric use. The result findings could probably serve as evidence of the need for better understanding of the devices used by politicians in their relentless endeavours to influence audience decisions.

Anomalous spin-related quantum phase in mesoscopic hole rings

We have obtained numerically exact results for the spin-related geometric quantum phases that arise in p-type semiconductor ring structures. The interplay between gate-controllable (Rashba) spin splitting and quantum-confinement-induced mixing between hole-spin states causes a much higher sensitivity of magnetoconductance oscillations to external parameters than previously expected. Our results imply a much-enhanced functionality of hole-ring spin-interference devices and shed new light on recent experimental findings.

Optical Characterization and Optimization of Display Components : Some Applications to Liquid-Crystal-Based and Electrochromics-Based Devices

This dissertation is focused on theoretical and experimental studies of optical properties of materials and multilayer structures composing liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and electrochromic (EC) devices. By applying spectroscopic ellipsometry, we have determined the optical constants of thin films of electrochromic tungsten oxide (WOx) and nickel oxide (NiOy), the films’ thickness and roughness. These films, which were obtained at spattering conditions possess high transmittance that is important for achieving good visibility and high contrast in an EC device. Another application of the general spectroscopic ellipsometry relates to the study of a photo-alignment layer of a mixture of azo-dyes SD-1 and SDA-2. We have found the optical constants of this mixture before and after illuminating it by polarized UV light. The results obtained confirm the diffusion model to explain the formation of the photo-induced order in azo-dye films. We have developed new techniques for fast characterization of twisted nematic LC cells in transmissive and reflective modes. Our techniques are based on the characteristics functions that we have introduced for determination of parameters of non-uniform birefringent media. These characteristic functions are found by simple procedures and can be utilised for simultaneous determination of retardation, its wavelength dispersion, and twist angle, as well as for solving associated optimization problems. Cholesteric LCD that possesses some unique properties, such as bistability and good selective scattering, however, has a disadvantage – relatively high driving voltage (tens of volts). The way we propose to reduce the driving voltage consists of applying a stack of thin (~1µm) LC layers. We have studied the ability of a layer of a surface stabilized ferroelectric liquid crystal coupled with several retardation plates for birefringent color generation. We have demonstrated that in order to accomplish good color characteristics and high brightness of the display, one or two retardation plates are sufficient.

Glaze visualization framework for mobile devices

Supervisor: Ian Oakley

Protótipo de um microgerador termoelétrico de estado sólido: cogeração a gás

The thermoelectric energy conversion can be performed directly on generators without moving parts, using the principle of SEEBECK effect, obtained in junctions of drivers' thermocouples and most recently in semiconductor junctions type p-n which have increased efficiency of conversion. When termogenerators are exposed to the temperature difference (thermal gradient) eletromotriz a force is generated inducing the appearance of an electric current in the circuit. Thus, it is possible to convert the heat of combustion of a gas through a burner in power, being a thermoelectric generator. The development of infrared burners, using porous ceramic plate, is possible to improve the efficiency of heating, and reduce harmful emissions such as CO, CO2, NOx, etc.. In recent years the meliorate of thermoelectric modules semiconductor (TEG's) has stimulated the development of devices generating and recovery of thermal irreversibility of thermal machines and processes, improving energy efficiency and exergy these systems, especially processes that enable the cogeneration of energy. This work is based on the construction and evaluation of a prototype in a pilot scale, for energy generation to specific applications. The unit uses a fuel gas (LPG) as a primary energy source. The prototype consists of a porous plate burner infrared, an adapter to the module generator, a set of semiconductor modules purchased from Hi-Z Inc. and a heat exchanger to be used as cold source. The prototype was mounted on a test bench, using a system of acquisition of temperature, a system of application of load and instrumentation to assess its functioning and performance. The prototype had an efficiency of chemical conversion of 0.31% for electrical and heat recovery for cogeneration of about 33.2%, resulting in an overall efficiency of 33.51%. The efficiency of energy exergy next shows that the use of primary energy to useful fuel was satisfactory, although the proposed mechanism has also has a low performance due to underuse of the area heated by the small number of modules, as well as a thermal gradient below the ideal informed by the manufacturer, and other factors. The test methodology adopted proved to be suitable for evaluating the prototype

Um estudo de estruturas com PBG e fotônica

One of the objectives of this work is the ana1ysis of planar structures using the PBG (photonic Bandgap), a new method of controlling propagation of electromagnetic waves in devices with dielectrics. Here the basic theory of these structures will be presented, as well as applications and determination of certain parameters. In this work the analysis will be performed concerning PBG structures, including the basic theory and applications in planar structures. Considerations are made related to the implementation of devices. Here the TTL (Transverse Transmission Line) method is employed, characterized by the simplicity in the treatment of the equations that govern the propagation of electromagnetic waves in the structure. In this method, the fields in x and z are expressed in function of the fields in the traverse direction y in FTD (Fourier Transform Domain). This method is useful in the determination of the complex propagation constant with application in high frequency and photonics. In this work structures will be approached in micrometric scale operating in frequencies in the range of T erahertz, a first step for operation in the visible spectra. The mathematical basis are approached for the determination of the electromagnetic fields in the structure, based on the method L TT taking into account the dimensions approached in this work. Calculations for the determination of the constant of complex propagation are also carried out. The computational implementation is presented for high frequencies. at the first time the analysis is done with base in open microstrip lines with semiconductor substrate. Finally, considerations are made regarding applications ofthese devices in the area of telecommunications, and suggestions for future

Eosi: um modelo para desenvolvimento de sistemas embarcados tolerantes a falhas

The semiconductor technologies evolutions leads devices to be developed with higher processing capability. Thus, those components have been used widely in more fields. Many industrial environment such as: oils, mines, automotives and hospitals are frequently using those devices on theirs process. Those industries activities are direct related to environment and health safe. So, it is quite important that those systems have extra safe features yield more reliability, safe and availability. The reference model eOSI that will be presented by this work is aimed to allow the development of systems under a new view perspective which can improve and make simpler the choice of strategies for fault tolerant. As a way to validate the model na architecture FPGA-based was developed.

Análise do espalhamento espectral em superfícies de estruturas complexas para comunicações móveis

In this work, the transmission line method is explored on the study of the propagation phenomenon in nonhomogeneous walls with finite thickness. It is evaluated the efficiency and applicability of the method, considering materials like gypsum, wood and brick, found in the composition of the structures of walls in question. The results obtained in this work are compared to those available in the literature, for several particular cases. A good agreement is observed, showing that the performed analysis is accurate and efficient in modeling, for instance, the wave propagation through building walls and integrated circuit layers in mobile communication and radar system applications. Later, simulations of resistive sheets devices such as Salisbury screens and Jaumann absorbers and of transmission lines made of metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) are made. Thereafter, it is described a study on frequency surface selective structures (FSS). It is proposed the development of devices and microwave integrated circuits (MIC) of such structures, for the accomplishment of experiments. Finally, future works are suggested, for instance, on the development of reflectarrays, frequency selective surfaces with dissimilar elements, and coupled frequency selective surfaces with elements located on different layers