Abstract: An insect decoy is provided that includes a vapor-isolated vessel, a chemical compound disposed within the vapor-isolated vessel, and an excitation energy source. The chemical compound may have one or more absorption bands at a set of absorption wavelengths and have one or more emission bands at a set of emission wavelengths. The excitation energy source may be configured to produce electromagnetic radiation at the absorption wavelengths so as to fluoresce the chemical compound and release photons at the emission wavelengths. The vapor-isolated vessel may be configured with at least one infrared transmissive window that is substantially transparent to the released photons at the emission wavelengths of the chemical compound.

Abstract: A toilet monitor uses a toilet tank water level sensor producing a toilet tank water level measurement signal. A processor detects rate of change of the measurement signal and conditionally produce a responsive actuation signal in response to the detected rate of change. A transducer connected to receive the actuation signal and transmit information, provide a humanly-perceptible indication, generate a data log and/or control an electronic water supply valve.

Abstract: An insect decoy is provided that includes a vapor-isolated vessel, a chemical compound disposed within the vapor-isolated vessel, and an excitation energy source. The chemical compound may have one or more absorption bands at a set of absorption wavelengths and have one or more emission bands at a set of emission wavelengths. The excitation energy source may be configured to produce electromagnetic radiation at the absorption wavelengths so as to fluoresce the chemical compound and release photons at the emission wavelengths. The vapor-isolated vessel may be configured with at least one infrared transmissive window that is substantially transparent to the released photons at the emission wavelengths of the chemical compound.

Abstract: An insect decoy is provided that includes a vapor-isolated vessel, a chemical compound disposed within the vapor-isolated vessel, and an excitation energy source. The chemical compound may have one or more absorption bands at a set of absorption wavelengths and have one or more emission bands at a set of emission wavelengths. The excitation energy source may be configured to produce electromagnetic radiation at the absorption wavelengths so as to fluoresce the chemical compound and release photons at the emission wavelengths. The vapor-isolated vessel may be configured with at least one infrared transmissive window that is substantially transparent to the released photons at the emission wavelengths of the chemical compound.

Abstract: An insect decoy is provided that includes a vapor-isolated vessel, a chemical compound disposed within the vapor-isolated vessel, and an excitation energy source. The chemical compound may have one or more absorption bands at a set of absorption wavelengths and have one or more emission bands at a set of emission wavelengths. The excitation energy source may be configured to produce electromagnetic radiation at the absorption wavelengths so as to fluoresce the chemical compound and release photons at the emission wavelengths. The vapor-isolated vessel may be configured with at least one infrared transmissive window that is substantially transparent to the released photons at the emission wavelengths of the chemical compound.

Abstract: An insect decoy is provided that includes a vapor-isolated vessel, a chemical compound disposed within the vapor-isolated vessel, and an excitation energy source. The chemical compound may have one or more absorption bands at a set of absorption wavelengths and have one or more emission bands at a set of emission wavelengths. The excitation energy source may be configured to produce electromagnetic radiation at the absorption wavelengths so as to fluoresce the chemical compound and release photons at the emission wavelengths. The vapor-isolated vessel may be configured with at least one infrared transmissive window that is substantially transparent to the released photons at the emission wavelengths of the chemical compound.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for causing a behavioral response in an insect species. The apparatus may include a housing, a radiating emitter, a directing apparatus, and a power source coupled to the radiating emitter. The radiating emitter may be configured to emit radiation at one or more wavelengths simulating an emission spectrum of a chemical compound of interest that may cause a behavioral response in the insect species. The directing apparatus disposed within the housing may be configured to control a direction of the emitted radiation and the power source may be configured to control an intensity of the emitted radiation.

Abstract: An insect decoy is provided that includes a vapor-isolated vessel, a chemical compound disposed within the vapor-isolated vessel, and an excitation energy source. The chemical compound may have one or more absorption bands at a set of absorption wavelengths and have one or more emission bands at a set of emission wavelengths. The excitation energy source may be configured to produce electromagnetic radiation at the absorption wavelengths so as to fluoresce the chemical compound and release photons at the emission wavelengths. The vapor-isolated vessel may be configured with at least one infrared transmissive window that is substantially transparent to the released photons at the emission wavelengths of the chemical compound.

Abstract: An electromechanical toilet leak detector comprises first and second enclosure portions. An adhesive structure disposed on the second enclosure portion, the adhesive structure in use for being removably adhered to the porcelain outer surface of a flush toilet. One of the first and second enclosure portions includes a groove that mates with a lip provided by the other of the first and second enclosure portions to provide a substantially water-resistant seal therebetween. A vibration sensing transducer disposed between the first and second enclosure portions generates a signal responsive to vibration generated by the toilet due to water inflow turbulence.

Abstract: An electromechanical toilet leak detector comprises first and second enclosure portions. An adhesive structure disposed on the second enclosure portion, the adhesive structure in use for being removably adhered to the porcelain outer surface of a flush toilet. One of the first and second enclosure portions includes a groove that mates with a lip provided by the other of the first and second enclosure portions to provide a substantially water-resistant seal therebetween. A vibration sensing transducer disposed between the first and second enclosure portions generates a signal responsive to vibration generated by the toilet due to water inflow turbulence.

Abstract: Water is conserved by detecting unintended inflow of water into the tank of a flush toilet. A sensor acoustically and/or vibrationally coupled to the flush toilet detects sound and/or vibration generated due to turbulence in water flowing into the toilet tank. An electronic circuit analyzes the sensor output to detect cyclical water inflow not intended by a user. The electronic circuit generates an alert such as an audible and/or visual indication that the toilet is leaking.

Abstract: A system and method for conditionally interfering with the operation of a conventional toilet tank fill valve prevents toilet overflow and conserves water. A single self-contained apparatus, located completely within the toilet tank, detects and prevents a toilet overflow and/or conserves water by conditionally interfering with or overriding the normal operation of a toilet tank fill valve to prevent a further flush. Exemplary illustrative non-limiting steps include removing the toilet tank lid to provide access to said toilet tank fill valve within the tank, manually snapping an assembly onto said fill valve protective cap, and automatically and conditionally actuating said assembly to cause the assembly to selectively interfere with or override the operation of said toilet tank fill valve. An exemplary illustrative non-limiting device comprises an attaching structure for manual attachment to said fill valve cap, and a control mechanism supported by said attaching structure.

Abstract: A system and method for conditionally interfering with the operation of a conventional toilet tank fill valve prevents toilet overflow and conserves water. A single self-contained apparatus, located completely within the toilet tank, detects and prevents a toilet overflow and/or conserves water by conditionally interfering with or overriding the normal operation of a toilet tank fill valve to prevent a further flush. Exemplary illustrative non-limiting steps include removing the toilet tank lid to provide access to said toilet tank fill valve within the tank, manually snapping an assembly onto said fill valve protective cap, and automatically and conditionally actuating said assembly to cause the assembly to selectively interfere with or override the operation of said toilet tank fill valve. An exemplary illustrative non-limiting device comprises an attaching structure for manual attachment to said fill valve cap, and a control mechanism supported by said attaching structure.

Abstract: A system and method for conditionally interfering with the operation of a conventional toilet tank fill valve prevents toilet overflow and conserves water. A controller connected to a water level sensor detects abnormal toilet tank water level over time and conditionally interferes with the normal operation of a toilet tank fill valve assembly, thereby preventing a further flush. The overflow and water conservation feature can be designed into a fill valve at time of manufacture and/or added later by a plumber or end user.

Abstract: A rugged, all-electronic fluid dispensing system for use with pipettes or in other contexts indirectly measures fluid flow by using a non-linear system model to correlate vacuum existing at the top of a column of suspended fluid. Non-contact operation is provided to eliminate the need for contact-type closed-loop fluid flow sensing and associated potential cross-contamination risks. In one particular exemplary non-limiting illustrative implementation, an electronic controller within a gun-shaped, cordless self-contained pipetter housing dynamically calculates valve opening time based on a non-linear equation. Calibration is used to derive equation constants, and column vacuum pressure before the valve is opened is used as the independent variable to derive a valve opening time that will result in accurate dispensing of a desired programmed fluid quantity.

Abstract: A rugged, all-electronic fluid dispensing system for use with pipettes or in other contexts indirectly measures fluid flow by using a non-linear system model to correlate vacuum existing at the top of a column of suspended fluid. Non-contact operation is provided to eliminate the need for contact-type closed-loop fluid flow sensing and associated potential cross-contamination risks. In one particular exemplary non-limiting illustrative implementation, an electronic controller within a gun-shaped, cordless self-contained pipetter housing dynamically calculates valve opening time based on a non-linear equation. Calibration is used to derive equation constants, and column vacuum pressure before the valve is opened is used as the independent variable to derive a valve opening time that will result in accurate dispensing of a desired programmed fluid quantity.

Abstract: An information signal to be communicated to a roof-mounted light bar or other electrical or electronic device travels over the vehicle's or other environment's power bus or other power conductor. In one exemplary illustrative non-limiting implementation, a modulated current load draws power supply current in an amount that is instantaneously responsive to at least some characteristic of the information signal to be communicated. This modulated current loading induces the vehicular or other power supply (e.g., DC battery) to modulate its output voltage in a manner that is responsive to the modulated current loading. A voltage sensor and demodulator also connected to the power bus senses the resulting voltage fluctuations and demodulates those fluctuations to recover or regenerate the original information signal.

Abstract: A two-piece portable, self-contained tympanic thermometer temperature measuring system includes a measuring unit and a base unit. The measuring unit can be ergonomically designed as a compact, pencil-shaped, easy to hold unit that includes a removable sensing module that interfaces with the base unit and/or other host via digital signaling. All analog circuitry can be self-contained within the sensor module, and the sensing module circuitry components may be potted with thermally conductive epoxy to reduce variations due to differences in component temperatures. The sensing module casing may be made out of a conductor to provide electromagnetic field isolation. The sensing module can include a microcontroller that communicates with a microcontroller in the base unit via a removable modular 4-conductor telephone handset cord.

Abstract: In a tympanic thermometer probe cover including a film, an additional, substantially non-stretchable structure is mechanically coupled to the film in the area where the probe contacts the film. This additional structure is designed so that it does not occlude infrared radiation from reaching the probe while maintaining the portion of the film over the probe distal end in a prestretched, wrinkle-free condition and preventing that portion of the film from stretching further. The structure may comprise a concentric registration ring that is adhered to the film. The registration ring includes a central open hole portion through which infrared radiation may pass without occlusion. The ring self-adheres to the film, maintaining the film in a prestretched, wrinkle-free condition. When the probe cover is applied to the probe, the probe contacts the ring. Since the ring is substantially non-stretchable, the ring prevents the film from further stretching over the probe.

Abstract: A disposable probe cover for an electronic tympanic ("ear") thermometer is made of closed-cell foam that is laminated with a sheet of high density polyethylene plastic film substantially transparent to infrared radiant energy. The probe cover is hollow, defining a central passageway that accepts an oversized probe and can potentially accommodate a variety of different probe configurations. The foam construction allows the probe cover to stretch over the oversized probe--retaining the probe cover on the probe during use. The foam construction also allows the probe cover to deform when inserted into a patient's ear--sealing the patient's ear canal to prevent external heat and light from affecting the measurement, and providing a high degree of cushioning and comfort not available in any prior disposable probe cover design. The film laminate and foam provide a barrier that is impervious to germs, fluids and other secretions--further reducing the already low risk of cross-contamination.