Abstract: Highly expressive and flexibly programmable foot-operated controllers are described. Specific implementations are intended for musical applications and allow musicians an unprecedented degree of control of a wide variety of musical components and subsystems for recording and/or performance.

Abstract: Surface modifications to sensors in an array give the sensors different functionalities for adsorbing or binding molecules. A method for modifying surfaces of resonant sensors comprises depositing and patterning a first pre-coating material such that the first pre-coating material coats a first one of the resonant sensors and does not coat a second one of the resonant sensors. Both the first and second resonant sensors are then coated with a receptor material. The first resonant sensor that is coated with a combination of the first pre-coating material and the receptor material has a different ability to adsorb or bind a mass of at least one analyte than does the second resonant sensor that is coated with the receptor material without the first pre-coating material. In some examples, an array of sensors is fabricated with N sensors having up to N different pre-coating materials underlying a coating of the same receptor material.

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 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: Two-dimensional sensor arrays incorporating piezoresistive materials are described.

Abstract: The present invention is a distance finder apparatus and system operable to project a laser beam spread in a line across a plane, and to determine the distance between a lens and objects that points of the spread laser beam contacts. The present invention comprises: a rangefinder incorporating an optical plate operable to cause an invisible laser beam to be spread, and a visible laser beam to be scattered, in a line along a plane, and the rangefinder is operable to measure distances at points where beams contact one or more objects; a visible pointer laser; and one or more display units. Locations where the spread beam contacts the one or more objects may be at variant distances, and measurements may be determined at any point along the scattered beam.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring spectra and other optical characteristics such as colors, translucence, gloss, and other characteristics of objects and materials such as skin. Instruments and methods for measuring spectra and other optical characteristics of skin or other translucent or opaque objects utilize an abridged spectrophotometer and improved calibration/normalization methods. Improved linearization methods also are provided, as are improved classifier-based algorithms. User control is provided via a graphical user interface. Product or product formulations to match the measured skin or other object or to transform the skin or other object are provided to lighten, darken, make more uniform and the like.

Abstract: Surface modifications to sensors in an array give the sensors different functionalities for adsorbing or binding molecules. A first sensor in the array includes a first resonating member having a first surface comprising a receptor material coated over a first underlying material. A second sensor includes a second resonating member having a second surface comprising the receptor material coated over a second underlying material that is different than the first underlying material. The first underlying material, the second underlying material, and the receptor material are selected such that the first resonating member, having a combination of the receptor material and the first underlying material, has a different ability to adsorb or bind a mass of one or more analytes than does the second resonating member having a combination of the receptor material with the second underlying material. Methods for fabricating sensors with surface modifications are also provided.

Abstract: A duct averaging sensor has a plurality of sensor elements contained within a housing. A housing connector selectably joins the housing to a mating terminal connector. The terminal connector may be attached to the outside wall of a duct. The housing connector and terminal connector may be selectably attached and detached, with the housing extending into the inside of the duct. The selectable attachment of the housing to the terminal connector substantially eases installation and maintenance of the duct averaging sensor over prior art duct averaging sensors.

Abstract: A substantially planar eddy-current sensor having durability enhancing pillars in an active region is provided. The pillars are distributed and sized so as to have limited effect on the sensor's performance. When the sensor is mounted on a component such that the sensor experiences forces on a top and bottom surface, the pillars bear the load reducing the load bore by the active elements (e.g., drive winding, sense elements). A sensor with redundant drive windings and/or redundant sense elements is disclosed. The redundant elements may be connected to separate electronics. Another aspect relates to providing a reference transformer for calibration of a sensor. The secondary windings of the reference transformer are connected in series with the sense elements of the sensor to be calibrated. Transimpedance measurements are made when the drive winding of the reference transformer is excited. The measurements are used to correct transimpedance measurements made when the drive winding of the sensor is excited.

Abstract: Detection of corrosion and other defects in piping is needed to prevent catastrophic pipeline failure. Sensors, systems and methods are provided to enable detection of such defects. These apparatus and methods are configured to characterize pipe protected by insulation and conductive weather protection. The sensors may utilize inductive and/or solid state sensing element arrays operated in a magnetic field generated in part by a drive winding of the sensor. Multiple excitation frequencies are used to generate the magnetic field and record corresponding sensing element responses. Relatively high excitation frequencies may be used to estimate the properties of the weather protection and sensor lift-off while lower frequencies may be used to detect internal and external pipe damage. Linear arrays may be moved to generate damage images of the pipe providing size and location information for defects. Two dimensional sensor arrays may be used to provide imaging without moving the sensor.

Abstract: An improved light to frequency converter optical sensor and method using electronic bias. Adjustable gain also may be provided. A summing circuit sums electrical current from a photo detector and electrical current from a bias current circuit and provides the summed current to an integrator. A threshold detector comparator circuit has an input coupled to the output of the integrator and an output providing a series of pulses. The series of pulses has a frequency based on the light received by the photo detector and the electrical current from the bias current circuit.

Abstract: A surface-conforming obscured feature detector includes a plurality of sensor plates, each having a capacitance that varies based on the dielectric constant of the materials that compose the surrounding objects and the proximity of those objects. A sensing circuit is coupled to the sensor plates 32 to measure the capacitances of the sensor plates. A controller is coupled to the sensing circuit to analyze the capacitances measured by the sensing circuit. One or a plurality of indicators are coupled to the controller, and are selectively activated to identify the location of an obscured feature behind a surface.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring load and an additional property using a sensor gasket embedded between two components. The sensor gasket may include a sensor layer and a conductive layer. A gap between the sensor layer and conductive layer may be filled with a load sensitive material. The thickness of the load sensitive material varies with the load applied to the two components between which the sensor gasket sits. The sensor operates in a first mode to obtain a sensor measurement that depends on the distance between the sensor layer and conductive layer. The sensor measurement then used to estimate the applied load. The sensor operates in a second mode to estimate a property of one or both of the components. The property of interest may be cracking, material loss due to corrosion, temperature, or another property of the component.

Abstract: A sensor array comprises resonant sensors and porous receptor materials arranged on the resonant sensors to absorb or adsorb one or more analytes. The average pore size of the porous receptor materials on the sensors increases systematically from one sensor to the next in the array. At least one detector is arranged to detect responses of the resonant sensors when the array is exposed to a sample potentially containing one or more of the analytes. In some embodiments, a processor is programmed to determine from the sensor responses the presence, amount or relative concentration of target molecules in the sample.

Abstract: A highly configurable controller is described that includes a number of different types of control mechanisms that emulate a wide variety of conventional control mechanisms using pressure and location sensitive sensors that generate high-density control information which may be mapped to the controls of a wide variety of devices and software.

Abstract: Highly expressive and flexibly programmable foot-operated controllers are described. Specific implementations are intended for musical applications and allow musicians an unprecedented degree of control of a wide variety of musical components and subsystems for recording and/or performance.

Abstract: A sensor array includes at least first and second resonator sensors. A receptor material on the first sensor is hydrophilic relative to a receptor material on the second sensor, and the receptor material on the second sensor is hydrophobic relative to the receptor material on the first sensor. At least one detector measures sensor responses when masses of one or more of substances are adsorbed or bound to the sensors. A processor receives signals or data representative of the sensor responses. The processor is programmed to determine at least one humidity value according to the sensor responses.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring spectra and other optical characteristics such as colors, translucence, gloss, and other characteristics of objects and materials such as skin. Instruments and methods for measuring spectra and other optical characteristics of skin or other translucent or opaque objects utilize an abridged spectrophotometer and improved calibration/normalization methods. Improved linearization methods also are provided, as are improved classifier-based algorithms. User control is provided via a graphical user interface. Product or product formulations to match the measured skin or other object or to transform the skin or other object are provided to lighten, darken, make more uniform and the like.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring spectra and other optical characteristics such as colors, translucence, gloss, and other characteristics of objects and materials such as skin. Instruments and methods for measuring spectra and other optical characteristics of skin or other translucent or opaque objects utilize an abridged spectrophotometer and improved calibration/normalization methods. Improved linearization methods also are provided, as are improved classifier-based algorithms. User control is provided via a graphical user interface. Product or product formulations to match the measured skin or other object or to transform the skin or other object are provided to lighten, darken, make more uniform and the like.

Abstract: The condition of internal or hidden material layers or interfaces is monitored and used for control of a process that changes a condition of a material system. The material system has multiple component materials, such as layers or embedded constituents, or can be represented with multiple layers to model spatial distributions in the material properties. The material condition changes as a result of a process performed on the material, such as by cold working, or from functional operation. Sensors placed proximate to the test material surface or embedded between material layers are used to monitor a material property using magnetic, electric, or thermal interrogation fields. The sensor responses are converted into states of the material condition, such as temperature or residual stress, typically with a precomputed database of sensor responses.