Abstract: The present invention may be embodied as a retrievable device capable of sensing one or more properties of an individual (e.g., chemical or physical parameters). In use, the retrievable device can continuously determine the chemical concentrations within the vaginal tract. An embodiment of the retrievable device comprises a first housing having a light source and an image capture device, a second housing removably connected to the first housing and having a sensor, and a fitting for retrieving the device. The sensor may be an analyte sensor configured to obtain at least one measurement of a concentration of an analyte in a fluid. The analyte sensor comprises a sensor substance in a sol-gel material so the sensor substance reversibly interacts with an analyte of interest. In addition, the retrievable device can be configured to determine different physical parameters and re-implanted.

Abstract: A focusing mechanism or module is designed to reduce the size of an optical lens-based focusing system that would be otherwise used in a portable device. According to one aspect of the present invention, the focusing mechanism includes a light guide with first and second sides. The light guide includes a plurality of light passages slanted inwardly formed evenly from the first side towards a center of the second side, wherein the light guide, disposed on top of the image sensor, collects a reflected light from a human body part and focuses the reflected light onto the image sensor, each of photosensors generates an proportional charge from the reflected light.

Abstract: A measurement method for selecting a rectangle from a grid image that has been projected on a surface of an object or that has been gained by taking an image of a grid drawn on the surface of an object, inputting an image in a state where the optical system has been adjusted in such a manner that the grid phase of the above-described projected grid image or the above-described drawn grid is gained by dividing 2m? (m is an integer) by Mx×Ny within the rectangle, sampling a rectangular region made up of Mx pixels in the x direction and Ny pixels in the y direction of the above-described grid image or an image of the above-described grid from the above-described inputted image, and finding a phase on the basis of the brightness of pixels in the above-described rectangular region.

Abstract: A bidirectional flow switch includes a housing having a flow passage therethrough. A body is disposed moveably in the flow passage and biased towards a first position at zero flow. A magnetic sensor is proximate the housing. A magnet is disposed with respect to the body and the magnetic sensor so that when the body is at the first position, the magnetic sensor is at a first state and so that the magnetic sensor is at a second state when a flow rate through the flow passage is greater than a threshold flow rate that moves the body from the first position.

Abstract: A bidirectional flow switch includes a housing having a flow passage therethrough. A body is disposed movably in the flow passage and biased towards a first position at zero flow. A magnetic sensor is disposed proximate the housing. A magnet is disposed with respect to the body and the magnetic sensor so that when the body is at the first position, the magnetic sensor is at a first state and so that the magnetic sensor is at a second state when a flow rate through the flow passage is greater than a threshold flow rate that moves the body from the first position.

Abstract: A propulsion engine for an aircraft comprises an enclosure having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction of travel of an aircraft, the enclosure including a series of walls and a plurality of ducts arranged along the longitudinal axis. Each of the ducts including a number of walls that are either dynamic or static in movement. Each of the ducts includes a central axis that is angled at, or can be adjusted to, an angle toward the front wall of the enclosure such that a top end of each duct is toward the front wall of the enclosure. A fan is disposed in each of the ducts configured to generate airflow along the respective central axes from the top end to the bottom end to provide lift and thrust to the aircraft.

Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus for measuring material properties. Segmented field sensors have multiple sensing elements at different spatial geometries to capture field components having substantially different depths of penetration. These sensors are excited and measured on these different sensing elements to facilitate characterization of unknown material properties. This is illustrated in some embodiments using eddy current sensors to characterize materials that are frequency dispersive and/or do not produce a measurable phase shifts. Only a single scalar quantity may provide independent information from one or more of the sensing elements. Property estimation techniques, such as those using precomputed databases of sensor responses are used to estimate the unknown material properties.

Abstract: An instrumented batting system measures a bat speed and an exit velocity as a batter swings a bat and initiates contact between the bat and a ball positioned on a batting tee assembly. The batting tee assembly includes a bat speed radar device and an exit velocity radar device each in communication with a computing device. The bat speed radar device emits a radar beam that intersects a swing plane of the batter in a direction generally toward an expected position of the batter. The exit velocity radar device emits another radar beam that intersects a flight path of the ball in another direction generally away from the expected position of the batter. The system determines the bat speed and exit velocity using the radar beams, calculates a batting metric based on the bat speed and exit velocity, and displays the swing metric using a computing device.

Abstract: Optical sensing methods and systems for power applications, and the construction thereof, are described herein. An example method of constructing a winding assembly includes mounting a sensing component to a coil former, and winding a coil onto the coil former so that the sensing component is positioned within the coil. A system and method for detecting operating conditions within a transformer using the described winding assemblies are described.

Abstract: System and method for characterizing material condition. The system includes a sensor, impedance instrument and processing unit to collect measurements and assess material properties. A model of the system may be used to enable accurate measurements of multiple material properties. A cylindrical model for an electromagnetic field sensor is disclosed for modeling substantially cylindrically symmetric material systems. Sensor designs and and data processing approaches are provided to focus the sensitivity of the sensor to localize material conditions. Improved calibration methods are shown. Sizing algorithms are provided to estimate the size of defects such as cracks and corrosion. Corrective measures are provided where the actual material configuration differs from the data processing assumptions. Methods are provided for use of the system to characterize material condition, and detailed illustration is given for corrosion, stress, weld, heat treat, and mechanical damage assessment.

Abstract: An illumination system includes a measurement stage on which a measurement target is located, a light-providing part having illumination sections providing multi-directional incident lights to the measurement target, a light-receiving part receiving single-directional reflection lights reflected by the measurement target according to the multi-directional incident lights, and a processing part that performs acquiring a first distribution of intensities the single-directional reflection lights with respect to the multi-directional incident lights, acquiring, from the first distribution, a second distribution of intensities of multi-directional reflections lights with respect to a single-directional incident light, and determining material of the measurement target based on parameters of the second distribution. A method of recognizing material using the illumination system and a computer readable non-transitory recording medium recording a program embodying the method are provided.

Abstract: This disclosure provides devices and methods for 3-D device packaging with backside interconnections. One or more device elements can be hermetically sealed from an ambient environment, such as by vacuum lamination and bonding. One or more via connections provide electrical interconnection from a device element to a back side of a device substrate, and provide electrical interconnection from the device substrate to external circuitry on the back side of the device. The external circuitry can include a printed circuit board or flex circuit. In some implementations, an electrically conductive pad is provided on the back side, which is electrically connected to at least one of the via connections. In some implementations, the one or more via connections are electrically connected to one or more electrical components or interconnections, such as a TFT or a routing line.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for characterizing composite materials for manufacturing quality assurance (QA), periodic inspection during the useful life, or for forensic analysis/material testing. System are provided that relate eddy-current sensor responses to the fiber layup of a composite structure, the presence of impact damage on a composite structure with or without a metal liner, volumetric stress within the composite, fiber tow density, and other NDE inspection requirements. Also provided are systems that determine electromagnetic material properties and material dimensions of composite materials from capacitive sensor inspection measurements. These properties are related to the presence of buried defects in non-conductive composite materials, moisture ingress, aging of the material due to service or environmental/thermal exposure, or changes in manufacturing quality.

Abstract: A device and method are provided for detecting analyte with correction for the effects of humidity. The device comprises a resonant sensor having an oscillating portion. A capacitor is positioned on the oscillating portion. The capacitor is formed by at least two electrodes and a sensing material positioned between the electrodes. A readout circuit is arranged to measure a response of the oscillating portion (e.g., frequency shift or change in resonance frequency, stiffness or strain) and a capacitance of the capacitor when substances are adsorbed or absorbed in the sensing material. This combination of measurements enables the device to distinguish between various types of adsorbed or absorbed molecules, especially distinguishing between an analyte of interest and water molecules that might interfere with the detection of the analyte.

Abstract: A measurement system, its assembly and use are disclose. The system may include an instrument for making sensor measurements. The instrument has a substantially cylindrical housing. The shape and size allow the instrument to easily fit in an average hand enabling handheld operation. The housing houses a board stack of electronic boards. These electronics drive an electrical signal in at least one drive channel and measure responses from at least two sensing channels. These responses are provided to a processor for analysis. The instrument has a sensor connector that enables simultaneous electrical and mechanical attachment of an end effector.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for coating a surface of a substrate with at least one film of porous coordination polymer. A body (e.g., a flow cell) has an interior space for holding the substrate to be coated, at least one inlet, and at least one outlet in communication with the interior space to permit fluid to flow in a downstream direction from the inlet, across the surface of the substrate in the interior space, and through the outlet. A plurality of flow channels are arranged to flow a plurality of different reagent solutions from respective supply sources to the at least one inlet. The flow channels merge into at least one mixing region, positioned upstream of the interior space, to mix the solutions prior to the mixture contacting the surface of the substrate in the interior space.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cargo-loaded cholesteryl ester nanoparticle with a hollow compartment (“cholestosome”) consisting essentially of at least one non-ionic cholesteryl ester and one or more encapsulated active molecules which cannot appreciably pass through an enterocyte membrane in the absence of said molecule being loaded into said cholestosome, the cholestosome having a neutral surface and having the ability to pass into enterocytes in the manner of orally absorbed nutrient lipids using cell pathways to reach the golgi apparatus. Pursuant to the present invention, the novel cargo loaded cholestosomes according to the present invention are capable of depositing active molecules within cells of a patient or subject and effecting therapy or diagnosis of the patient or subject.

Abstract: Sensor systems are described that are designed to be integrated with gloves for the human hand. An array of sensors detects forces associated with action of a hand in the glove, and associated circuitry generates corresponding control information that may be used to control a wide variety of processes and devices.

Abstract: Sensors and sensor systems incorporating piezoresistive materials for integration with footwear are described.