Abstract: A system for augmenting security sensor accuracy and reduction of false alarm signals. The system includes the security sensor system along with an external sensor system for measuring the effect of environmental conditions on the security sensors and further includes a sensor data augmentation component to adjust the sensitivity of the security sensors according to measured environmental conditions. Weather sensors and video sensors are two preferred external sensor systems.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system and method. An array of cantilevers with PZT films is electrically connected to an energy harvesting device that converts vibration energy to electrical energy. An AC output signal provided by the cantilevers can be rectified to a DC output, thereby avoiding impairment in total electrical output. The DC output terminals can be connected in parallel and/or in series in order to achieve a higher voltage and/or a higher current that prevents the output from different cantilevers from counteracting one another. The connection circuitry includes one or more rectifying components integrated with one or more micro-cantilevers into a single integrated circuit chip. An oscillograph can be utilized to monitor the DC output voltage signal from an associated testing circuit.

Abstract: A device for pumping and compressing fluids, particularly in micro-liter quantities. First and second polarized cylindrical magnets are mounted in a cylinder with an inlet and an outlet port. The first magnet is adapted to rotate on the axis of the cylinder and has a fixed longitudinal position on that axis. The second magnet is free to move longitudinally but kept from any rotational movement, as a piston in the cylinder. The inlet port is open when the piston magnet is repelled by the rotor magnet's polarity and the outlet is open when the piston magnet is attracted by the rotor magnet's polarity as it rotates.

Abstract: A method can be adapted for design and preparation of a matrix nanocomposite sensing film for hydrogen sulphide SAW/BAW detection at room temperature. A matrix nanocomposite can be synthesized by incorporating both single-wall and multi-wall thiolated carbon nanotubes into conductive organic polymers or ceramic nanocrystalline in a properly functionalized manner. A thin organic sensing film can be prepared based on the matrix nanocomposite. The matrix nanocomposite sensing film can be prepared on a surface of a SAW/BAW device by an additive process or a direct printing process. Finally, the sensing film can be consolidated by thermal annealing or laser annealing under ambient conditions in order to obtain the stable sensing film with higher sensitivity and electrical properties for a SAW/BAW based H2S sensor.

Abstract: A system for determining particle parameters. The system may, for example, may optically determine parameters common to a hematology analysis. Such parameters may include a red blood cell count, a platelet count, a mean cell volume and a red cell distribution width. A hematocrit parameter may be calculated. Also, a measurement of hemoglobin in a blood sample may be obtained leading to a calculation of a mean mass of hemoglobin in a red blood cell and a mean cell hemoglobin concentration. The system may be implemented in a portable cartridge type cytometer.

Abstract: A micro-sized power source. A piezoelectric power generator, capable of harvesting energy from environmental vibration with lower level frequency, including a dielectric frame loosely containing a piezoelectric panel. The piezoelectric panel includes an electrode and a piezoelectric layer formed over an electrode and dielectric layer and an end mass formed on the piezoelectric layer. The end mass provides weight to cause the piezoelectric panel to move (vibrate) within the frame and causes the generation of electrical power.

Abstract: A system having transmitters, receivers, transceivers, actuators, sensors, input/output rack, and/or a computer with application specific software and/or hardware, for secure communication and control. The system may use frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) and encryption. Schedules for FHSS and encryption keys may be varied in variously elaborate ways. The system may utilize a distributed control system to manage the transmission and reception of signals, control operations, FHSS scheduling, changing of keys, and information.

Abstract: An optical detection system for flow cytometry that uses light sources positioned laterally at different distances from the central axis of the flow stream for providing light through different parts of the flow stream. By using two or more light sources, the particle position can be detected, and the alignment and width of the core stream can be monitored and controlled.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a power generator comprising one or more fuel cells and a fuel, wherein the fuel comprises an alkali metal silicide.

Abstract: A system for testing and calibrating gas sensors with gas stored in a strip of packets. The strip may be fed into a chamber having a defined volume of air. A packet may be punctured with a mechanism to release one or more gases into the volume of air to result in an air-gas mixture. New air may be moved into the chamber to push the mixture out of the chamber to a sensor for testing and/or calibration. Then another packet may be punctured to release one or more gases into the volume of new air in the chamber for another air-gas mixture. This mixture may be moved out of the chamber, in the same manner as the previous mixture, to another sensor for testing and/or calibration. This procedure may be repeated with additional packets on the strip.

Abstract: Devices and method for photo acoustically detecting a gas are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a gas sensor includes an optical cavity defined by one or more optical segments separating at least two mirrors. A photo acoustic cell, configured to receive a gas from the surrounding environment, is provided at least partially within one or more of the optical segments of the optical cavity. One of the at least two mirrors is configured to couple electromagnetic radiation into the optical cavity and to interact with the gas. A detector is acoustically coupled to the photo acoustic cell to detect absorption of the electromagnetic radiation by the gas.

Abstract: A sensor system having an analyte modulator, detector and a pump. The concentration of an analyte sample may be modulated at one time constant. The detector may have an output with a drift at another time constant. The one time constant may be shorter than the latter time constant. The latter time constant may be substantially removed from the detector output with a discriminator. A reservoir may receive high concentrations of analyte from the modulator, before analyte is forwarded to the detector and pump via analyte conveyance lines and valving. The modulation or pre-concentration of analyte in the sensor system may entail shorter times and smaller volumes than those needed by the detector. Such mismatches may be alleviated via accumulation of analyte in the reservoir prior to being forwarded to the detector.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate a gas sensor comprising a gas detector and a hydrocarbon gas generating device, wherein the hydrocarbon gas generating device is positioned to provide an amount of hydrocarbon gas to the gas detector for testing. The hydrocarbon gas generating device comprises a heater and a gas releasing material.

Abstract: A cavity ring-down spectrometer having a light-conveying structure, a mirror and an isolator. The structure may form a resonator cavity, and the resonator cavity may include a sample sub-cavity and a mirror sub-cavity. A preconcentrator medium may be within a sample sub-cavity, and the medium may adsorb a sample substance entering the sample sub-cavity. A heater may heat the medium to desorb the sample through which a light can propagate. The mirror may be within the mirror sub-cavity, and the mirror may direct light through the mirror sub-cavity and the sample sub-cavity. The isolator may reduce, inhibit or prevent the sample substance in the sample sub-cavity from entering the mirror sub-cavity and affecting the mirror in the mirror sub-cavity.

Abstract: A cavity ring-down sensor having an optical path of mirrors and an interface proximate to a mirror with a normal incidence optical fiber coupling. The interface may be a block of transmissive materials having different indices of refraction for receiving a light beam of normal incidence from an optical fiber and directing the beam into the optical path. The sensor may be used applications where the optical fiber needs to be straight into the sensor without unusual bending because of space limitations. One application of this sensor may be for ground water testing via a narrow well casing.

Abstract: A system and method for visualizing the location and movement of people in facilities. The facility is provided with a plurality of sensors such as RF or IR sensors that communicate with a badge worn by each individual and selected physical assets in the facility. The sensors send data to a processor which displays the data on a monitor in a form that permits ready visualization of the individuals, and allows the observer to select information as needed. The display may directly indicate certain specifics about an individual based on data stored in the processor or entered by the observer.

Abstract: One embodiment of the application provides a method of forecasting utility demand of a utility consuming entity for a future time period. The method includes: selecting a utility demand matrix from a set of utility demand matrixes as a function of a future date, wherein the set of utility demand matrixes are classified by type-of-day, and representing a relation of past utility demand of the entity to time-in-day interval and outdoor temperature in the vicinity of the entity during the type-of-day; identifying a utility demand element from the utility demand matrix as a function of a future time-in-day and a known factor (e.g., future outdoor temperature) thereof; and generating a utility demand forecast of the entity for the future time period as a function of the identified utility demand element.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for facilitating the root cause analysis of an event through spatial and pattern recognition. Alarms can be graphically represented in an alarm summary screen by individual colored rectangles with different luminance and patterns and are organized into categories, which are used to form logical alarm clusters that provide spatial advantage, wherein the size and color of the rectangle defines its priority and precedence. The summary screen also provides operators with strong visual cues, a play forward feature to project how alarms might evolve if particular actions are taken and a play backward feature that can replay the sequence of alarms.

Abstract: A combination of inter-frame and intra-frame and sequential classification methods provide for robust and flexible object classification. Intra-frame classification determines the object type based on features extracted from a single image. Inter-frame classification determines object types based on the features extracted from several sequential frames. A sequential classification combines the results of the inter- and intra-frame classifications over a sequence of images.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a housing including a dielectric portion, a particulate matter (“PM”) sensor fixed inside the housing such that the exhaust streaming through an exhaust system passes near and in electrical isolation from the PM sensor, the PM sensor including a terminal couplable to a PM sensing circuit to produce a PM sensor indication associated with sensed PM and a fastener coupled to the housing and mountable to the exhaust system to dispose the housing into the exhaust system such that exhaust streaming through the exhaust system passes outside the dielectric portion of the housing.