Abstract: Techniques for determining characteristics of a stream of jetted material in a three-dimensional (3D) printer are disclosed. An example 3D printer includes an ejector configured to release molten droplets along a jetting path from the ejector to a build platform. The 3D printer also includes a sensor positioned adjacent to the jetting path and an optical mask positioned adjacent to the jetting path. The optical mask includes a plurality of regions comprising light-blocking regions and light-passing regions. The optical mask is configured to modulate a signal generated by the sensor as the molten droplets travel along the jetting path. The 3D printer also includes a controller to control the 3D printer based on the signal.

Abstract: Techniques for determining characteristics of a stream of jetted material in a three-dimensional (3D) printer are disclosed. An example system includes an ejector configured to release molten droplets along a jetting path from the ejector to a build platform. The system also includes a sensor positioned adjacent to the jetting path and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to light emanating from the molten droplets. The system also includes an optical mask positioned adjacent to the jetting path, the optical mask comprising a plurality of regions configured to modulate the electrical signal generated by the sensor as the molten droplets travel along the jetting path. The system also includes one or more processing devices to receive the electrical signal, analyze the electrical signal to identify one or more characteristics of the molten droplets, and control the 3D printer based on the one or more characteristics.

Abstract: Techniques for determining characteristics of a stream of jetted material in a three-dimensional (3D) printer are disclosed. An example system includes an ejector configured to release molten droplets along a jetting path from the ejector to a build platform. The system also includes an optical sensor positioned adjacent to the jetting path and configured to generate an electrical signal in response to light emanating from the molten droplets. The system also includes an optical mask positioned adjacent to the jetting path. The optical mask includes light-blocking regions and light-passing regions to modulate the electrical signal generated by the optical sensor. The system also includes one or more processing devices to receive the electrical signal from the optical sensor, process the electrical signal to identify characteristics of the molten droplets, and control the 3D printer based on the characteristics. The characteristics include an estimated temperature of the molten droplets.

Abstract: A discrimination system that forms a fluid column and interrogates objects within the fluid column with an excitation source. An optical arrangement collects output electromagnetic radiation emanating from the excited objects disposed within the fluid column and directs the output electromagnetic radiation to a detector. An analyzer reduces the positional dependency of the detected intensity by normalizing the value based on the position of each object.

Abstract: A massively parallel microfluidic chip is provided having a plurality of sections that are stacked or layered along a stacking direction to form a plurality of microchannels at least partially oriented to flow along the stacking direction. The plurality of sections can include a transfer section for introduction of sample fluid including particles, a particle focusing section configured to focus the particles in the sample fluid, and an actuation section including a plurality of interrogation regions and a plurality of actuators. Each interrogation region and actuator is associated with at least one microchannel in the plurality of microchannels. The arrangement of the microfluidic channels along the stacking direction enables an extremely high packing density of channels and interrogation regions on a single chip to provide massively parallel processing of particles.

Abstract: Systems and methods taught herein advantageously provide extended dynamic range capabilities to detect low intensity and high intensity emitted or scattered light from particles at high speeds with high sensitivity. Independently controlled first and second optical detector elements that handle light intensities in different dynamic ranges, large overall dynamic range is created. Signals from the detector elements can be combined to create a single combined signal that has excellent sensitivity over a large dynamic range. The detector systems and methods taught herein are particularly advantageous in particle processing where the population of particles can emit or scatter light over a large range of intensity values.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving streaming data in the form of peak readings developed from spectrum data produced by multiplexed optical sensors of one or more optical fibers. The streaming data comprises wavelength and intensity data associated with the sensors. The method comprises determining, for a particular fiber, whether a number of the peak readings is the same as, or differs from, an expected number, N, where N corresponds to a total number of sensors of the particular fiber. The method also comprises correcting anomalous streaming data in response to determining that the number of the peak readings differs from the expected number, N. The method further comprises storing nominal wavelength and intensity streaming data and the corrected wavelength and intensity streaming data in a structured data table indexed by fiber ID and sensor ID.

Abstract: An optical arrangement receives output light emanating from an object disposed within a fluid column that crosses an optical refraction boundary of the fluid column between the object and the optical arrangement. The optical arrangement modifies the output light such that the modified output light has an intensity that is more uniform than the output light.

Abstract: A discrimination system that forms a fluid column and interrogates objects within the fluid column with an excitation source. An optical arrangement collects output electromagnetic radiation emanating from the excited objects disposed within the fluid column and directs the output electromagnetic radiation to a detector. An analyzer reduces the positional dependency of the detected intensity by normalizing the value based on the position of each object.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a power grid includes one or more power transformer monitors. Each power transformer monitor includes a plurality of optical sensors disposed on one or more optical fibers that sense parameters of the power transformer. Each optical sensor is configured to sense a power transformer parameter that is different from a power transformer parameter sensed by at least one other sensor of the plurality of optical sensors. An optical coupler spatially disperses optical signals from the optical sensors according to wavelength. A detector unit converts optical signals of the optical sensors to electrical signals representative of the sensed power transformer parameters.

Abstract: A system includes a sensor network comprising at least two optical fibers coupled to a pavement. Each optical fiber includes one or more optical sensors installed a predetermined distance from one or more adjacent optical fibers. The one or more optical sensors are configured to produce a wavelength shift signal. A processor is configured to determine one or both of one or more attributes of one or more objects travelling on the pavement and a traffic condition of the pavement based on the wavelength shift signal. A transmitter is configured to transmit the one or more attributes to a predetermined location.

Abstract: A partial discharge (PD) transducer that includes a PD sensor configured to sense a PD event of an electrical system. At least one light emitting device (LED) is arranged in series with the PD sensor. The LED is configured to receive the electrical sensor signal from the PD sensor and to generate a light signal in response to the electrical sensor signal.

Abstract: A system for evaluating a high voltage asset (HV asset) comprises a PD detector disposed in the HV asset. The PD detector comprises an electrical coupler configured to couple electrical disturbances indicative of a partial discharge from a high voltage conductor of the HV asset to an electrical-to-optical converter. The electrical-to-optical converter comprises a light emitter, and is configured to convert the electrical disturbances to a light signal. An optical power receiver is disposed in the high voltage asset and coupled to the PD detector. The optical power receiver is configured to receive optical power from an external optical power source via a non-conducting optical fiber arrangement. The electrical-to-optical converter is configured to communicate the light signal indicative of the partial discharge to an electronic device external of high voltage asset via the non-conducting optical fiber arrangement.

Abstract: An optical arrangement receives output light emanating from an object disposed within a fluid column that crosses an optical refraction boundary of the fluid column between the object and the optical arrangement. The optical arrangement modifies the output light such that the modified output light has an intensity that is more uniform than the output light.

Abstract: One or more spacers for installing an optical cable are disposed in a trench that extends along an axis. The optical cable includes one or more optical sensors. Each spacer includes a base configured to rest in a bottom of the trench. A first arm extends from the base. The first arm is adjacent to a first wall of the trench. An opposing second arm extends from the base. The second arm is adjacent to an opposing second wall of the trench. The optical cable is configured to extend along the axis.

Abstract: An analyzing system includes a detection area with a transparent window past which an analyte moves and emits or transmits light. One or more polarizing elements receive and polarize the light into respective two or more different polarization components. One or more optical detectors receive the respective two or more polarization components and generate respective at least two signals in response. A processor is coupled to the optical detectors and configured to determine a polarization status of the light from the analyte based on the at least two signals.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a sensor network comprising at least one optical fiber having one or more optical sensors. At least one of the optical sensors is arranged to sense vibration of an electrical device and to produce a time variation in light output in response to the vibration. A detector generates an electrical time domain signal in response to the time variation in light output. An analyzer acquires a snapshot frequency component signal which comprises one or more time varying signals of frequency components of the time domain signal over a data acquisition time period. The analyzer detects a condition of the electrical device based on the snapshot frequency component signal.

Abstract: One or more live substances is cultured at a plurality of test locations of a test vessel. The test locations include a thermochromic material and one or more test substances. A spectral shift in light emanating from the thermochromic material of the test locations is detected. The spectral shift occurs in response to an increase or decrease in energy conversion by the live substance. An effect of the one or more test substances on the live substances is determined based on the detected spectral shift.

Abstract: A set of load responses of an asset for a sample of traffic loading events caused by objects of unknown weight is measured. At least one statistical parameter is determined from the set of load responses. A corresponding statistical parameter of known object weights loading the asset is determined. An object weight is assigned to a load response of the set of load responses based on correlation of the extracted statistical parameter to the corresponding statistical parameter.

Abstract: A system for evaluating a high voltage asset (HV asset) comprises a PD detector disposed in the HV asset. The PD detector comprises an electrical coupler configured to couple electrical disturbances indicative of a partial discharge from a high voltage conductor of the HV asset to an electrical-to-optical converter. The electrical-to-optical converter comprises a light emitter, and is configured to convert the electrical disturbances to a light signal. An optical power receiver is disposed in the high voltage asset and coupled to the PD detector. The optical power receiver is configured to receive optical power from an external optical power source via a non-conducting optical fiber arrangement. The electrical-to-optical converter is configured to communicate the light signal indicative of the partial discharge to an electronic device external of high voltage asset via the non-conducting optical fiber arrangement.