Abstract: A controlled pressure release valve includes a valve body having a gas inlet for connection to a gas container and a gas outlet for delivering gas to a protected area. The controlled valve comprises a slidable spool housed in the valve body that is slidable between a first position and a second position. The slidable spool has a first end and a second end. A primary flow passage connects the gas inlet and the gas outlet and increases with lineal movement of the slidable spool. The sliding spool is biased towards the first position by a gas pressure applied by the second chamber and a spring.

Abstract: A method of electromechanical energy harvesting includes sensing electrical current generated by relative movement of a coil and a magnetic flux source produced by movement of a cantilevered beam in response to ambient vibration energy, determining a vibration characteristic of the ambient vibration energy, and adjusting an effective flexible length of the cantilevered beam as a function of the vibration characteristic and the sensed electrical current.

Abstract: A controlled pressure release valve controls the gas flow in high-pressure systems. The valve includes a valve body, a slidable spool, a primary flow passage, a first and second chamber, a first and second spring, a first and second passages, and a valve actuator. The valve body has a gas inlet and a gas outlet and houses the slidable spool. The slidable spool has a first end and a second end, and is slidable between a first position and a second position. The primary flow passage connects the gas inlet and the gas outlet and increases with lineal movement of the slidable spool. The first chamber is located adjacent the first end of the slidable spool and a second chamber is located adjacent the second end of the slidable spool. The sliding spool is biased toward the first position by a gas pressure applied by the second chamber and the second spring.

Abstract: A method of electromechanical energy harvesting includes sensing electrical current generated by relative movement of a coil and a magnetic flux source produced by movement of a cantilevered beam in response to ambient vibration energy, determining a vibration characteristic of the ambient vibration energy, and adjusting an effective flexible length of the cantilevered beam as a function of the vibration characteristic and the sensed electrical current.

Abstract: An ambient energy harvesting system, and method of use thereof, includes a magnetic flux-generating assembly (28), a coil (30) positioned adjacent to the magnetic flux-generating assembly (28), and a cantilevered arm (24). Vibration of the cantilevered arm (24) enables relative movement between the magnetic flux-generating assembly (28) and the coil (30) to generate an electric current in the coil (30). An effective flexible length (L) of the cantilevered arm (24) is selected such that applied kinetic energy causes the cantilevered arm (24) to vibrate at approximately its resonant frequency.

Abstract: A two-step, self-regulating valve (16) controls gas flow from a gas cylinder (12) in a high pressure system. The valve (16) includes a valve body (24), a piston (26), a plug (28), a valve actuator (34), and a piston actuator (32). The piston (26) is movable within the valve body (24) along an axis between a first and a second position. The plug (28) is movable within the valve body (24) along the axis between a valve closed position, a partially open position, and a fully open position. The valve actuator (34) allows the plug (28) to move from the valve closed position to the partially open position. The piston actuator (32) causes the piston (26) to move from the first position to the second position when a gas pressure in the gas cylinder (12) is less than a setpoint. When the piston (26) moves to the second position, the piston (26) allows the plug (28) to move from the partially open position to the fully open position.

Abstract: A controlled pressure release valve includes a valve body having a gas inlet for connection to a gas container and a gas outlet for delivering gas to a protected area. The controlled valve comprises a slidable spool housed in the valve body that is slidable between a first position and a second position. The slidable spool has a first end and a second end. A primary flow passage connects the gas inlet and the gas outlet and increases with lineal movement of the slidable spool. The sliding spool is biased towards the first position by a gas pressure applied by the second chamber and a spring.

Abstract: A security breach in the integrity of a container (10), such as a cargo container or a security vault, is detected using an apparatus (12) formed of a transmitter (18) and a processor (20). The transmitter (18) includes an antenna (26) that radiates electromagnetic waves from within the container (10). The processor (20) measures an impedance of the antenna (26) and produces an alarm if the impedance of the antenna (26) strays indicating a security breach in the integrity of the container (10).

Abstract: A two-step, self-regulating valve (16) controls gas flow from a gas cylinder (12) in a high pressure system. The valve (16) includes a valve body (24), a piston (26), a plug (28), a valve actuator (34), and a piston actuator (32). The piston (26) is movable within the valve body (24) along an axis between a first and a second position. The plug (28) is movable within the valve body (24) along the axis between a valve closed position, a partially open position, and a fully open position. The valve actuator (34) allows the plug (28) to move from the valve closed position to the partially open position. The piston actuator (32) causes the piston (26) to move from the first position to the second position when a gas pressure in the gas cylinder (12) is less than a setpoint. When the piston (26) moves to the second position, the piston (26) allows the plug (28) to move from the partially open position to the fully open position.

Abstract: The present invention describes a system and method for surveillance cameras that maintain proper mapping of a mapped region of interest with an imaged region of interest based on feedback received regarding the current orientation of a surveillance camera. The system or method first determines the location of the imaged region of interest within the surveillance camera's imaged current field of view based on mechanical or imaged feedback, or a combination of both. The system or method then remaps the mapped region of interest within the surveillance camera's imaged current field of view such that the mapped region of interest is coextensive with the imaged region of interest.

Abstract: An ambient energy harvesting system, and method of use thereof, includes a magnetic flux-generating assembly (28), a coil (30) positioned adjacent to the magnetic flux-generating assembly (28), and a cantilevered arm (24). Vibration of the cantilevered arm (24) enables relative movement between the magnetic flux- generating assembly (28) and the coil (30) to generate an electric current in the coil (30). An effective flexible length (L) of the cantilevered arm (24) is selected such that applied kinetic energy causes the cantilevered arm (24) to vibrate at approximately its resonant frequency.

Abstract: A system for automatically determining video quality receives video input from one or more surveillance cameras (16a, 16b . . . 16N), and based on the received input calculates a number of video quality metrics (40). The video quality metrics are fused together (42), and provided to decision logic (44), which determines, based on the fused video quality metrics, the video quality provided by the one or more surveillance cameras (16a, 16b . . . 16N). The determination is provided to a monitoring station (24).