Abstract: System and method provide wireless distributed lighting control systems implementing a secure peer-to-peer, self-organizing and self-healing mesh network of actuators and system inputs. The system and method can be designed specifically for indoor and outdoor lighting where actuators include in-fixture, on-fixture and circuit control modules with ON/OFF and full range dimming capabilities, and system inputs include occupancy/vacancy sensors, daylight sensors and switches. A unique messaging protocol facilitates wireless and wired communication between actuators and system inputs, and provides web-based commissioning and monitoring of the lighting control system using a wireless access point accessible from a local network or Internet which can provide an intuitive and easy to use Graphical User Interface (GUI).

Abstract: An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.

Abstract: An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.

Abstract: An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.

Abstract: An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.

Abstract: An electric measurement method and apparatus for detecting a mass by an electric capacity (permittivity) or a material's dielectric constant, or alternatively, electric inductance (permeability). The mass may be any phase or combination of phases. The mass may be stationary or flowing. It may comprise discrete particles such as grain, or manufactured products such as ball bearings or threaded fasteners, etc. The mass may be a flow element in a rotameter or similar flow measurement device. The sensor comprises a volume which may be completely full or only partially full of the material. The material may be discrete components or a continuum. Sensor signals may be received by existing planter monitoring systems. In some embodiments the flow sensors are positioned external to the application port. In some embodiments sensors may be utilized which are responsive to the refractive index variation of specific chemicals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bistable piezoelectric cantilever-based vibration energy harvester that increases the energy harvested over a broad frequency of vibrations by introducing bistability to the cantilever through use of two repelling magnets, one mounted on the cantilever and one at a location facing the first. This increases the amplitude and velocity of cantilever vibration, hence harvested power, while nonlinearity makes the system efficient over almost the entire range of frequencies, lower than the natural resonant frequency of the linear version without the magnets. Such improved performance is seen while the cantilever remains in the bistable mode.

Abstract: A soil sensor includes a housing, an antenna disposed within the housing, a measurement circuit disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna, the circuit configured to measure impedance of soil at a plurality of different frequencies using the antenna as a sensor electrode, and a wireless interface disposed within the housing and operatively connected to the antenna and configured for wireless communications over the antenna at its communications frequency.

Abstract: A pre-pulsed magnetic field generation circuit for a fiber-based, magneto-optic (MO) optical modulator or switch for use in an interferometer is provided. The pre-pulsed magnetic field is used to control the amount of rotation in the state of polarization (SOP), and therefore, the ON-OFF extinction ratio. The circuit includes a pair of amplifier circuits that control the current through a coil to generate the pre-pulsed magnetic field. One amplifier controls a magnitude of a steady state portion of the magnetic field, while the other controls both the amplitude and duration of a pre-pulse portion of the magnetic field.

Abstract: A fiber-based, magneto-optic (MO) optical modulator or switch based on Sagnac interferometry is provided. The system uses a magneto-optic Faraday rotator (MOFR) to produce optical modulation with low magnetic fields. The Sagnac geometry allows for increased modulation at lower fields than traditional MO modulators. This switch uses the MOFR to create different states of polarization in counter-propagating waves, which results in interference at the output port. A magnetic field is used to control the amount of rotation in the state of polarization (SOP), and therefore, the ON-OFF extinction ratio.

Abstract: A passive RFID tag suitable for attachment to an electrically conductive surface is provided. The passive RFID tag includes a dielectric substrate, an RFID chip for storing data, and an RFID antenna structure operatively connected to the RFID chip wherein the RFID antenna structure comprises a slotted inverted L-shape. A method of manufacturing a passive RFID tag includes forming an antenna structure on a conductive layer, the antenna structure comprising a slotted inverted L-shape. The method further includes operatively connecting an RFID chip with the antenna structure. A method associated with a passive RFID tag includes providing a passive RFID tag. The passive RFID tag includes a dielectric substrate, an RFID chip for storing data, and an RFID antenna structure operatively connected to the RFID chip wherein the RFID antenna structure comprises a slotted inverted L-shape. The method further includes operatively connecting the passive RFID tag to a conductive surface.

Abstract: A method of spatial control of a phased array system having a plurality of antenna elements is provided. The method includes providing a baseband signal, baseband phase shifting the baseband signal to provide a plurality of baseband shifted signals for controlling phase of each of the plurality of antenna elements, upconverting each of the baseband shifted signals to a radio frequency signal, and applying each of the radio frequency signals to the plurality of antenna elements to thereby provide for spatial control of the phased array system. A hardware architecture for a phased array system is also provided.

Abstract: An integrated fiber optic switch based on the magneto-optic effect of magnetic materials suitable for optical fiber networks is presented. The switch is based on the Faraday Effect exhibited by magneto-optic materials. The all-fiber magneto-optic switch has a beam splitter at the input that splits an incoming signal into orthogonal polarized paths. Each path has at least one magneto-optic Faraday rotator (MOFR) controlled by a field. When the field is present, the polarization of the optical beam changes, thereby turning the switch on or off. A beam coupler couples the orthogonal polarized paths at the output of the all-fiber magneto-optic switch. The switch is constructed in the Mach-Zehnder configuration, utilizing two 3 dB couplers, isolators and MOFRs fabricated on silicon-on-insulator.

Abstract: A fiber-based, magneto-optic (MO) optical modulator or switch based on Sagnac interferometry is provided. The system uses a magneto-optic Faraday rotator (MOFR) to produce optical modulation with low magnetic fields. The Sagnac geometry allows for increased modulation at lower fields than traditional MO modulators. This switch uses the MOFR to create different states of polarization in counter-propagating waves, which results in interference at the output port. A magnetic field is used to control the amount of rotation in the state of polarization (SOP), and therefore, the ON-OFF extinction ratio.

Abstract: A fiber optic switch based on the magneto-optic effect of magnetic materials is presented. Due to the optical fiber based construction of the switching device it is suitable for optical fiber networks The on-off function of the switch is useful for isolation and connection of node(s) from a fiber optical network without having to turn off a laser. The switch is based on the Faraday Effect exhibited by magneto-optic materials. The all-fiber magneto-optic switch has a beam splitter at the input that splits an incoming signal into orthogonal polarized paths. Each path has at least one magneto-optic Faraday rotator (MOFR) controlled by a field. When the field is present, the polarization of the optical beam changes, thereby turning the switch on or off depending on the initial polarization of the beam. A beam coupler couples the orthogonal polarized paths at the output of the all-fiber magneto-optic switch. The MOFR is a bismuth substituted iron garnet.

Abstract: A buff is made from a non-woven fabric where the fibers are first carded and formed into a fairly thick fleece. The fleece is passed over a topographical surface on, for example, a moving belt or a drum. The fleece is subject to a bow-tie hydroentanglement process where many fine jets of water entangle the fibers on the topographical surface. Excess water is vacuumed from the system. The fabric is dried and chemically treated. With the fabric a variety of buffing tools are made, in wheel, belt or roll form. Tests against standard and mill treatment buffs show a remarkably lower fabric weight loss percentage and lower or normal operating temperatures. The fabric has exceptional mechanical strength having a tensile strength in excess of 650 N/50 mm according to DIN 29073/3. Preferably the fabric has a tensile strength of at least 1,000 N/50 mm in the machine direction and in excess of 900 N/50 mm in the cross direction according to such DIN.

Abstract: The invention provides tapered-width micro-cantilevers and micro-bridges that give additional design parameters for controlling and synthesizing pull-in (i.e., actuation) voltages. The pull-in voltage of a tapered-width micro-cantilever is generally a function of the taper function of the width along the length, the initial width, and the length of the micro-cantilever. By controlling these design parameters, a specific pull-in voltage for a micro-cantilever is obtained. The formula for a pull-in voltage is determined based on the geometry of the micro-cantilever device and a plurality of derived pull-in voltages. The pull-in voltage is derived by iteratively solving a displacement vector as a function of applied voltage across the micro-cantilever device and setting the pull-in voltage to the voltage at which the solution does not converge. The formula is derived for linear-tapered width, parabolic-tapered width and exponential-tapered width micro-cantilevers.

Abstract: A buff is made from a non-woven fabric where the fibers are first carded and formed into a fairly thick fleece. The fleece is passed over a topographical surface on, for example, a moving belt or a drum. The fleece is subject to a bow-tie hydroentanglement process where many fine jets of water entangle the fibers on the topographical surface. Excess water is vacuumed from the system. The fabric is dried and chemically treated. With the fabric a variety of buffing tools are made, in wheel, belt or roll form. Tests against standard and mill treatment buffs show a remarkably lower fabric weight loss percentage and lower or normal operating temperatures. The fabric has exceptional mechanical strength having a tensile strength in excess of 650 N/50 mm according to DIN 29073/3. Preferably the fabric has a tensile strength of at least 1,000 N/50 mm in the machine direction and in excess of 900 N/50 mm in the cross direction according to such DIN.

Abstract: A buff is made from a non-woven fabric where the fibers are first carded and formed into a fairly thick fleece. The fleece is passed over a topographical surface on, for example, a moving belt or a drum. The fleece is subject to a bow-tie hydroentanglement process where many fine jets of water entangle the fibers on the topographical surface. Excess water is vacuumed from the system. The fabric is dried and chemically treated. With the fabric a variety of buffing tools are made, in wheel, belt or roll form. Tests against standard and mill treatment buffs show a remarkably lower fabric weight loss percentage and lower or normal operating temperatures. The fabric has exceptional mechanical strength having a tensile strength in excess of 650 N/50 mm according to DIN 29073/3. Preferably the fabric has a tensile strength of at least 1,000 N/50 mm in the machine direction and in excess of 900 N/50 mm in the cross direction according to such DIN.

Abstract: A non-resonant electromagnetic energy sensor includes an electromagnetic energy source and an electromagnetic energy detector in communication with the interior volume of a measuring region through which an analyte passes. The electromagnetic energy detector detects the signal variations of the electromagnetic energy within the measuring region caused by the perturbation of the electromagnetic energy field due to the passage of the analyte therethrough and responds to these signal variations by generating output signals. These output signals may then be received by electronic circuitry designed for quantitative and/or qualitative detection of the flow of various substances including individual particles, particles flowing as a continuum, and non-turbulent fluids.