Abstract: Ultrasensitive, decoupled thermodynamic sensing platforms for the molecular-level detection of target analytes are disclosed, wherein the sensors have a heating resistor decoupled from a sensing resistor. Embodiments of the decoupled sensor comprise a metallic microheater resistor on one side of substrate, and a sensor resistor coupled to a catalyst on the other side of the substrate. A sensor array may be provided including a plurality of sensors each having a different catalyst that, when exposed to an analyte, each experience an endothermic reaction, an exothermic reaction, or no reaction. A comparison of the reaction results to data comprising previously obtained reaction results may be used to determine the presence and the identity of the analyte. Advantageously, the decoupled sensors utilize less power and provide greater sensitivity than other-known systems, and may be used to detect and identify a single molecule of an analyte.

Abstract: An electronic circuit includes signal processing electronics. The electronic circuit receives an electrical signal generated by a photodetector based on a light beam from a location on a material including a signal of interest and one or more modulation frequencies. The electronic circuit discriminates a portion of the electrical signal proportional to a characteristic of the signal of interest from other components of the electrical signal using a low pass filter with a transfer function including a notch at a notch frequency corresponding to one of the modulation frequencies. The electronic circuit determines a value for the characteristic of the signal of interest from the discriminated portion of the electrical signal. The signal processing electronics further outputs the value of the characteristic of the signal of interest.

Abstract: A method determines the number of layers in a sample material. The method includes measuring, as a function of two or more wavelengths, a four-wave mixing (FWM) spectrum of the sample material. The method further includes using the FWM spectrum to determine a thickness of the sample material, wherein the thickness is a number of layers in the sample material.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting rotary transformer performance based on data analysis includes a related user vehicle analysis module, which obtains the status characteristics of the rotary transformer during each maintenance of the vehicle under test. It constructs a relationship function of winding variables with vehicle operation time and analyzes the deviation between the constructed relationship function and the corresponding functions in the database for vehicles that have undergone rotary transformer replacement, thereby obtaining a set of related user vehicles for the vehicle under test. The system and method takes into account the vehicle user's usage of the vehicle and the impact of temperature and vibration on the rotary transformer during vehicle operation. It analyzes the impact of the vehicle user's usage on the performance of the rotary transformer, thereby accurately predicting the remaining service life of the rotary transformer and providing timely fault warnings to the vehicle user.

Abstract: Ultrasensitive, decoupled thermodynamic sensing platforms for the molecular-level detection of target analytes are disclosed, wherein the sensors have a heating resistor decoupled from a sensing resistor. Embodiments of the decoupled sensor comprise a metallic microheater resistor on one side of substrate, and a sensor resistor coupled to a catalyst on the other side of the substrate. A sensor array may be provided including a plurality of sensors each having a different catalyst that, when exposed to an analyte, each experience an endothermic reaction, an exothermic reaction, or no reaction. A comparison of the reaction results to data comprising previously obtained reaction results may be used to determine the presence and the identity of the analyte. Advantageously, the decoupled sensors utilize less power and provide greater sensitivity than other-known systems, and may be used to detect and identify a single molecule of an analyte.

Abstract: A downhole optical communications system provided at a downhole location in use, the downhole communications system being for communicating between the downhole location and an uphole location, such as a surface location. The downhole optical communications system comprises a downhole optical transmitter configured to emit an optical signal for transmission over an optical transmission channel between the uphole location and the downhole optical transmitter; wherein the downhole optical transmitter is configured so as to produce a response to an optical signal received from the optical transmission channel and the downhole optical communications system is configured to determine data represented by the received optical signal from the response produced by the downhole optical transmitter.

Abstract: A method 200, system and device for range finding are provided. The method 200 comprises determining 204 a first optical signature of a spool of optical fibre 16 wound in a winding pattern. The winding pattern comprises repeated changes in a winding parameter to provide a different optical response such that the first optical signature comprises a plurality of markers representing each change in the winding parameter. The method 200 further comprises despooling the fibre 16 from the spool; determining a second optical signature of the spool of optical fibre 16 after despooling the fibre 16 from the spool; and calculating 208 the length of despooled fibre based on a comparison of the first and the second optical signatures. The determined length may be used to determine a range of the spool of optical fibre 16 deployed in a wellbore.

Abstract: A well-based, groundwater delivery system provides a wireless control network that is used to report system performance via measured operational metrics. Such metrics facilitate monitoring of operational parameters associated with the well-based, groundwater delivery system and closed-loop control feedback to automatically implement measures to prevent damage. Sensors are used to measure volumes of water stored within the well-based, groundwater delivery system as well as water flow rates. Soft mounted sensors allow accurate measurements to be taken regardless of the mounting orientation of the sensor or the degree of plumb exhibited by water storage tanks of the well-based, groundwater delivery system. Automated status and control is established wirelessly via a base controller that may be accessed locally by a portable user device or accessed remotely via an external network.

Abstract: An optical system includes a first lens group, a second lens group, and a lens drive device. The first lens group and the second lens group satisfy conditional expressions (1) to (5) below: -6.0<f/f2<?2.0??(1) ih/f<0.4??(2) 0.7<TTL/f<1.0??(3) 1.6<Fno<7.0??(4) De2<De1.

Abstract: A downhole optical communications system provided at a downhole location in use, the downhole communications system being for communicating between the downhole location and an uphole location, such as a surface location. The downhole optical communications system comprises a downhole optical transmitter configured to emit an optical signal for transmission over an optical transmission channel between the uphole location and the downhole optical transmitter; wherein the downhole optical transmitter is configured so as to produce a response to an optical signal received from the optical transmission channel and the downhole optical communications system is configured to determine data represented by the received optical signal from the response produced by the downhole optical transmitter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for deploying an elongate medium in a bore is described. The apparatus includes a housing defining an internal spool cavity, and the housing is configured to be deployed in the bore. A spool of elongate medium is mounted within the spool cavity. The housing defines an outlet to permit the elongate medium to be deployed from the spool cavity, and an inlet to permit bore fluid to enter the housing during deployment of the elongate medium from the spool cavity. In use, the housing includes an isolating fluid to isolate the elongate medium from the bore fluid entering the housing. Also described is a kit for deploying elongate medium in a bore and a method of preparing an apparatus for deployment of an elongate medium in a bore.

Abstract: A dry diffuser is disclosed which avoids safety and transport issues typical of liquid diffusers, candles and wax melts and provides systematic controlled diffusion of fragrance (or other active material) over relatively long periods with a programmable user interface.

Abstract: A downhole optical communications system provided at a downhole location in use, the downhole communications system being for communicating between the downhole location and an uphole location, such as a surface location. The downhole optical communications system comprises a downhole optical transmitter configured to emit an optical signal for transmission over an optical transmission channel between the uphole location and the downhole optical transmitter; wherein the downhole optical transmitter is configured so as to produce a response to an optical signal received from the optical transmission channel and the downhole optical communications system is configured to determine data represented by the received optical signal from the response produced by the downhole optical transmitter.

Abstract: A multiplexed inductive tactile sensor for measuring location and force of contact with an external object includes sense and drive electronics and an array of sensels, each having a drive coil inductively coupled with a sense coil. The array has rows and columns of sensels. Drive coils in each column are electrically connected in series and driven by an AC constant current source through an analog demultiplexer. All sense coils in each row are electrically connected in series and the induced AC voltage across the row is fed to an AC amplifier through an analog multiplexer. The amplified AC voltage is then fed to the amplitude demodulator to generate a DC signal that is dependent on the inductive coupling factor between drive coil and sense coil of a sensel that is selected by being the intersection of the active current drive column and sense row. A first deformable conductive shield layer may be disposed adjacent to a first compressible dielectric layer disposed on first side of a PCB.

Abstract: A through-bore spool apparatus for use in deploying multiple spoolable media in a bore is disclosed. The through-bore spool apparatus comprises a first spool comprising a first spool axis and a first spoolable medium wound around the first spool axis, and a second spool comprising a second spool axis and a second spoolable medium wound around the second spool axis. The first and second spoolable media are de-spoolable simultaneously from the respective first and second spools during movement of the through-bore spool apparatus along a bore.