Abstract: A system and method for powering an ultraviolet (UV) water purification system utilizing a dynamo. A dynamo, operably attached to the UV water purification system, generates power from a rotatable crank which is actuated by a user around an axis of the rotatable crank. When the crank is rotated, the dynamo produces an electrical current that activates and powers the UV lamp, which in turn, produces UV light to purify the water. To ensure that the water has been purified appropriately, a microcontroller, employed within the UV water purification system, tracks both the “on” time and the intensity of the UV lamp as the dynamo is cranked. Once the lamp has been “on” at a sufficient intensity and for an appropriate period of time to administer a required dose of UV light, the microcontroller disables the lamp and provides the user with notification that the process has completed.

Abstract: A wearable or portable intermittently operable hydration system includes a purification module that contains one or more solid state light emitting devices that are positioned in the path of hydrating fluid, or water, flow through the hydration system to a mouthpiece. The light emitting devices illuminate a photocatalytic material disposed within the flow path in order to react and create fluid-purifying hydroxyls. The lights are instant on devices with essentially no ramp-up required, and a sensor or the opening of a push-pull valve controls the turning on of the lights. The fluid flow path may run from a bladder in a backpack worn by the user, a sports bottle worn by or carried by the user or may be through a water filtration system that a user operates via a pump. The power for the purification module may come from batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, or power converted from pumping, winding, etc.

Abstract: The inventive optical sensor consists of an LED semiconductor material and elements (herein after the LED components) surrounded by a transparent encapsulant that allows much of the light produced by the LED components to pass while a certain small percentage of the light is internally reflected. The percentage of light internally reflected, depends upon whether at least a front face of the encapsulant is immersed in liquid or in air. The optical liquid sensor also consists of a strategically placed photo sensor that detects the intensity of light that is internally reflected by at least the front face of the encapsulant surrounding the LED. The photo sensor is able to detect the change in intensity of light being internally reflected by at least the front face of the encapsulated LED when the front face, for example, emerges from immersion in a liquid.

Abstract: A wearable or portable intermittently operable hydration system (10) includes a purification module (22, 50) that contains one or more solid state UV devices that are positioned in the path of hydrating fluid, or water, flow through the hydration system to a mouthpiece (18). The UV LEDs are instant on devices with essentially no ramp-up required, and a sensor (20) or the opening of a push-pull valve (53) controls the turning on of the UV LEDs. The fluid flow path may run from a bladder (12) in a backpack (19) worn by the user, a sports bottle (54) worn by or carried by the user or may be through a water filtration system that a user operates via a pump. The power for the purification module may come from batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, power converted from pumping or winding action or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A portable water filtration system that interconnects two, otherwise separate, water bottles arranged vertically such that water flows under gravitational pressure from a first water bottle through a filter configured to capture small particle impurities to a second water bottle and removes small particle impurities before they enter the second water bottle. The filtration system is implemented within a cap that can attach to a variety of standard water bottles, such as NALGENE™ water bottles. A removable connector ring attaches to the cap to connect a second water bottle to the system. When vertically aligned, water flows from a first water bottle through the filter element in the cap to the second water bottle to remove small and large particles.

Abstract: The inventive optical sensor consists of an LED semiconductor material and elements (herein after the LED components) surrounded by a transparent encapsulant that allows much of the light produced by the LED components to pass while a certain small percentage of the light is internally reflected. The percentage of light internally reflected, depends upon whether at least a front face of the encapsulant is immersed in liquid or in air. The optical liquid sensor also consists of a strategically placed photo sensor that detects the intensity of light that is internally reflected by at least the front face of the encapsulant surrounding the LED. The photo sensor is able to detect the change in intensity of light being internally reflected by at least the front face of the encapsulated LED when the front face, for example, emerges from immersion in a liquid.

Abstract: A portable water filtration system filters water as it flows through an inlet of a conventional storage container and removes impurities before they enter the container. The filtration system is implemented within a cap that can attach to a variety of standard water storage containers, such as Nalgene™-type water bottles. When attached to the storage container, the cap seals around the container inlet and prevents the outer surface of the container inlet from contacting the water. To that end, two watertight seals are formed to isolate the outer surface of the inlet from any fluid communication, e.g., during a water-filling process. Because the outer surface of the inlet does not contact the unfiltered water, no contaminants can adhere to the inlet's surface and threaten a drinker's health if he/she drinks directly from the storage container after the cap is removed.

Abstract: A wearable or portable intermittently operable hydration system includes a purification module that contains one or more solid state UV devices that are positioned in the path of hydrating fluid, or water, flow through the hydration system to a mouthpiece or other orifice. The purification module provides a path for the fluid past one or more solid state UV devices, such as UV LEDs, that produce UV radiation in a germicidal range. When the fluid is flowing past the UV LEDs, the LEDs are turned on to provide sufficient UV radiation to purify the water. The UV LEDs are instant on devices with essentially no ramp-up required, and a sensor or other signaling means in to the flow path controls the turning on of the UV LEDs whenever the user initiates the fluid flow. The fluid flow path may run from a bladder in a backpack worn by the user, a sports bottle worn by or carried by the user or may be through a water filtration system that a user operates via a pump.

Abstract: A wearable or portable intermittently operable hydration system (10) includes a purification module (22, 50) that contains one or more solid state UV devices that are positioned in the path of hydrating fluid, or water, flow through the hydration system to a mouthpiece (18). The UV LEDs are instant on devices with essentially no ramp-up required, and a sensor (20) or the opening of a push-pull valve (53) controls the turning on of the UV LEDs. The fluid flow path may run from a bladder (12) in a backpack (19) worn by the user, a sports bottle (54) worn by or carried by the user or may be through a water filtration system that a user operates via a pump. The power for the purification module may come from batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, power converted from pumping or winding action or any combination thereof.

Abstract: An optical beam diagnostic device includes one or more sets of coherent optical fiber bundles, wherein one end of the coherent optical fiber bundles is arranged to receive optical information from a dynamic moving or static optical beam or beams, and the other end of the coherent optical fiber bundles is arranged to transmit the optical information to a sensor array. Data from the sensor array can then be simultaneously acquired by an analysis system and analyzed to determine one or more characteristics of the optical beam.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a goniospectrophotometer is provided for quickly obtaining a goniospectrum using a goniospectrophotometer. In some embodiments, a parabolic reflector is used to optically transform the angular space of a source at the parabola focus into a linear space and facilitate the use of a single diffracting element and area camera to simultaneously measure the angular spectrum of the source. Spectra corresponding to zenith angles of light reflection by the parabolic reflector can be acquired by a detector and analyzed in a computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapid measurements of far-field radiation profiles having a large dynamic range from an optical source is disclosed. Some embodiments of the apparatus include a collector coupled to a rotating hub so that the rotation of an entrance to the collector defines a plane, a detector coupled to receive light captured at the entrance to the collector, and detector electronics having a programmable gain coupled to receive a signal from the detector, Some embodiments may include a rotatable entrance mirror for reflecting light from the optical source into the plane of the entrance of the collector. In some embodiments, the optical source is fixed relative to the plane of the entrance of the collector. In some embodiments, the optical source is rotatable in the plane defined by the entrance of the collector. In some embodiments, the source can be an optical fiber. In some embodiments, the source can be a material irradiated by a laser.

Abstract: The disclosed Quantum Optical Coherence Tomography apparatus and method includes a source of quantum entangled photons and a quantum interference device. The pair of entangled photons is divided into two beams, one of which illuminates a semi-reflective object and the second of which is reflected from a variable optical time-delay element (VTE). The VTE is scanned and the quantum interference in the QID is recorded to build up a reflectance profile of the object. Areal scanning produces a full tomographic reflectance image. A method of processing the data to eliminate the effects of optical dispersion is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an entangled-photon apparatus capable of measuring particular characteristics of an optical element, device or channel and further capable of correcting for the effects of said characteristics in an optical communications signal propagating through the optical element. Specifically, the apparatus and a method of using said apparatus to measure and compensate polarization mode dispersion in an optical communications fiber is disclosed. The apparatus includes a source of entangled photons, which are injected into the device under test along with the communications signal, and a two branch quantum interference device (QID) for determining the state of entanglement of said photons after they pass through the device. The quantum interference device includes a variable, polarization-specific delay element that is incremented to equalize the twinon correlation in the two branches of the QID, and a second variable delay element to apply the compensation to the communications signal.

Abstract: A hand-held water purification system includes an outwardly-extending pen-light sized configuration of solid state devices, such as, UV-light emitting diodes, that emit ultraviolet light in the germicidal range. The system operates to turn on the solid state devices under the control of one or more switches that are, in turn, under the control of a liquid-level sensor that senses when the configuration is immersed in the water. The system may also include a timing circuit that turns the solid state devices off a predetermined time after they are turned on. In one embodiment, a battery powers the various components of the system. In an alternative embodiment, the system power is provided by a base that plugs into a conventional power outlet. The base includes a converter that converts the signal provided through the power outlet to a signal that is appropriate to power the components.

Abstract: The invention relates to an entangled-photon apparatus capable of measuring particular characteristics of an optical element, device or channel. Specifically, the apparatus and a method of using said apparatus to measure polarization mode dispersion in an optical communications fiber is disclosed. The apparatus includes a source of entangled photons, which are injected into the device under test, and a quantum interference device for determining the state of entanglement of said photons after they pass through the device. The quantum interference device includes a variable, polarization-specific delay element that is incremented to null out polarization mode dispersion in the device under test, and a wavelength demultiplexer/array detector that permits simultaneous measurements across a wide wavelength band.

Abstract: A hand-held water purification system includes a pen-light sized ultraviolet lamp that is enclosed in a quartz cover and is powered by a battery and associated ballast circuitry. The battery and ballast circuitry are connected to the lamp by switches that are under the control of a liquid-level sensor. The sensor connects the battery, the ballast circuitry and the lamp once the sensor determines that the ultraviolet lamp is fully immersed in the water. If the container that holds the water is relatively large, the lamp and quartz cover end of the system are used to stir the water, to ensure that all of the water comes sufficiently close to the ultraviolet lamp.

Abstract: A gonioradiometric scanning apparatus and method for measuring the near and/or far field radiation pattern of radiating optical sources such as laser diodes (LD), light emitting diodes (LED), optical fibers, flat panel displays, and luminaires is described. The scanning apparatus incorporates a deflector for selecting an azimuth angle through the optical source to be measured, a rotating apparatus which collects light while scanning about the source, an optical commutator, and a detector. The rotating apparatus comprises a cylindrical hub and an optical collector using either an optical fiber or a train of reflectors, such as mirrors or retro-reflectors. The optical collector provides a means for both collecting light and for directing the beam emanating from the deflector to a place opposite the detector at which optical commutation occurs.

Abstract: A hand-held water purification system includes a pen-light sized ultraviolet lamp that is enclosed in a quartz cover and is powered by a battery and associated ballast circuitry. The battery and ballast circuitry are connected to the lamp by switches that are under the control of a liquid-level sensor. The sensor connects the battery, the ballast circuitry and the lamp once the sensor determines that the ultraviolet lamp is fully immersed in the water. If the container that holds the water is relatively large, the lamp and quartz cover end of the system are used to stir the water, to ensure that all of the water comes sufficiently close to the ultraviolet lamp.

Abstract: An optical system for the attenuation of laser light for measurement purposes which includes four logical subassemblies including a first attenuator subassembly for the attenuation of high power laser light, a second attenuator subassembly for lower power attenuation of the laser light, a third lens subassembly for collecting beam size data simultaneously at multiple locations in space, and a fourth logical subassembly including a beam measuring assembly for recording the beam size data received from the lens subassembly for analysis of the beam characteristics. The first attenuator subassembly is provided with a pair of reflecting, opposed facing, fixed wedges. The reflecting wedges are selectively tilted to eliminate interference effects between their inward facing reflecting surfaces. The second attenuator subassembly further includes a pair of opposed facing and movable wedges arranged in series with a fixed filter.