Abstract: A plunger lift system, as well as a method for monitoring plunger parameters within a wellbore using such a plunger lift system, are provided. The plunger lift system includes a lubricator attached to a wellhead at the surface and a plunger dimensioned to travel through the production tubing upon being released from the lubricator. The plunger lift system also includes magnetic sensor systems installed along the production tubing, where each magnetic sensor system includes a magnetic sensor for detecting the passage of the plunger as it travels through the production tubing, as well a communication device for transmitting communication signals between the magnetic sensor systems and a computing system located at the surface, where the computing system includes a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that direct the processor to dynamically determine the plunger position and/or velocity based on the received communication signals.

Abstract: An intraocular lens (IOL) device includes a lens configured to be positioned along the optical axis of a patient's eye and at least one haptic configured to engage an area within the patient's eye in order to position the lens along the optical axis. The IOL device further includes an expandable haptic-lens junction coupling the at least one haptic to the lens, the expandable haptic-lens junction configured to displace the lens relative to the haptic in response to an applied energy.

Abstract: A power supply including a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) adapted for placement in an eye includes a base material transparent to visible light; and fluorescent particles doped within the base material. The fluorescent particles are capable of absorbing and reemitting light in the ultraviolet spectrum. A concentration of the fluorescent particles as a function of radius from an optical axis of the LSC is reduced in at least a portion of the base material outside of a pupil diameter. At least one photovoltaic cell is configured to receive the light in the ultraviolet spectrum trapped within the base material and to convert the trapped light into electricity.

Abstract: A power supply including a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) adapted for placement in an eye includes a base material transparent to visible light; and fluorescent particles doped within the base material. The fluorescent particles are capable of absorbing and reemitting light in the ultraviolet spectrum. A concentration of the fluorescent particles as a function of radius from an optical axis of the LSC is reduced in at least a portion of the base material outside of a pupil diameter. At least one photovoltaic cell is configured to receive the light in the ultraviolet spectrum trapped within the base material and to convert the trapped light into electricity.

Abstract: An x-ray imaging system and method for providing three-dimensional data representing the contents of an object. An x-ray source and x-ray screen are used to acquire multiple x-ray images of the object from different perspectives. The different perspectives are obtained by placing the x-ray source at one end of a moveable arm. These images are processed by back-projecting each perspective image at known distances between the object and the x-ray source, and superimposing the back-projected images at each distance, thereby providing a set of image slices of the object along the z-axis.

Abstract: A fingerprint reader for acquiring a fingerprint image has a platen with a micro prism sheet on its underside. An arrangement of fold mirrors is used to receive light from the platen and fold the optical path twice before reaching the imagers. The reader has multiple imagers, each imager having at least an imaging lens and an image sensor. Each imager is configured so that the image plane of the image sensor is tilted relative to the optical axis of the imaging lens, such that keystone distortion in the fingerprint image is corrected.

Abstract: A laser sensor comprising a sensor head to receive laser light. The sensor head may have a globe-shaped optical member, the globe-shaped optical member may be optically coupled to an optical-to-electrical converter, the optical-to-electrical converter may be configured to convert laser light from the sensor head to an electronic output signal, and the sensor head may be configured to provide a 360 degree field of view in a horizontal plane and a positive (+) 90 degree field of view in a vertical plane above the horizontal plane.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for enabling detection of a modulated optical source involve one or more modulated optical signals shifted, i.e., demodulated optically, to one or more base band signals that are detectable by one or more low-frequency detectors.

Abstract: An x-ray imaging system and method for providing three-dimensional data representing the contents of an object. An x-ray source and x-ray screen are used to acquire multiple x-ray images of the object from different perspectives. The different perspectives are obtained by placing the x-ray source at one end of a moveable arm. These images are processed by back-projecting each perspective image at known distances between the object and the x-ray source, and superimposing the back-projected images at each distance, thereby providing a set of image slices of the object along the z-axis.

Abstract: A laser sensor comprising a sensor head to receive laser light. The sensor head may have a globe-shaped optical member, the globe-shaped optical member may be optically coupled to an optical-to-electrical converter, the optical-to-electrical converter may be configured to convert laser light from the sensor head to an electronic output signal, and the sensor head may be configured to provide a 360 degree field of view in a horizontal plane and a positive (+) 90 degree field of view in a vertical plane above the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A fingerprint reader for acquiring a fingerprint image has a platen with a micro prism sheet on its underside. An arrangement of fold mirrors is used to receive light from the platen and fold the optical path twice before reaching the imagers. The reader has multiple imagers, each imager having at least an imaging lens and an image sensor. Each imager is configured so that the image plane of the image sensor is tilted relative to the optical axis of the imaging lens, such that keystone distortion in the fingerprint image is corrected.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for the realization of a photovoltaic solar cell that is able to achieve greater than 50% efficiency and can be manufactured at low cost on a large scale. The apparatus of the present invention is an integrated optical and solar cell design that allows a much broader choice of materials, enabling high efficiency, the removal of many existing cost drivers, and the inclusion of multiple other innovations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for enabling detection of a modulated optical source involve one or more modulated optical signals shifted, i.e., demodulated optically, to one or more base band signals that are detectable by one or more low-frequency detectors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving high-density and misalignment tolerant short-reach free-space optical interconnects between arbitrary locations in a field, using microlenses, steering elements and a curved reflecting surface.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for the realization of a photovoltaic solar cell that is able to achieve greater than 50% efficiency and can be manufactured at low cost on a large scale. The apparatus of the present invention is an integrated optical and solar cell design that allows a much broader choice of materials, enabling high efficiency, the removal of many existing cost drivers, and the inclusion of multiple other innovations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for waveguide-based and free space based optical interconnection in integrated circuits that includes an input optical waveguide with etched end-facets, an output optical waveguide with an end-facets and modulators and detectors.