Abstract: A housing for encapsulating a power supply for a sonde is disclosed. The housing includes an inner support over-molded with an outer sleeve. The inner support may be metal or plastic and may include an outer tube and an inner tube that are integral with one another with the outer tube providing the exterior surface of the inner support and being spaced apart from the inner tube except where the inner and outer tubes share a common arc. When both the inner support and the outer sleeve are plastic, the inner support includes a reinforced plastic and the outer sleeve includes a non-reinforced plastic.

Abstract: A probe head is disclosed that is detachable from a probe body containing electronics. The probe head includes a housing enclosing a sensor and at least part of an electrical connector electrically coupled to the sensor. The housing has a coupling member positioned to detachably connect the housing to the probe body, and when the probe head and probe body are coupled, the electrical connector electrically couples the sensor to the electronics within the probe body. The probe head may be disposable.

Abstract: A detachable, replaceable, and/or disposable probe head connectable to a probe body containing electronics, a probe that includes the probe head and the probe body, and the combination of a sonde and the probe are described herein. The probe head includes a housing that has a coupling member for detachably connecting the housing to the probe body, in particular to the electronics in the probe body. The probe head also includes a sensor and an electrical connector at least partially housed within the housing, and an operational amplifier electrically coupling the sensor to the electrical connector.

Abstract: An acoustic Doppler system comprising a plurality of acoustic transceivers, an acoustic subsystem controller and a main processing unit operatively connected to the acoustic subsystem controller. A first of the plurality of acoustic transceivers operates at a first acoustic frequency and is operatively connected to a first group of transducers producing an acoustic signal. A second of the plurality of acoustic transceivers operates at a second acoustic frequency and is operatively connected to a second group of transducers producing an acoustic signal. The first and second acoustic transceivers are adapted to operate concurrently at the first and second acoustic frequencies. The acoustic subsystem controller is operatively connected to the first and second acoustic transceivers and controls the acoustic signals produced by the first and second group of transducers.

Abstract: A probe head is disclosed that is detachable from a probe body containing electronics. The probe head includes a housing enclosing a sensor and at least part of an electrical connector electrically coupled to the sensor. The housing has a coupling member positioned to detachably connect the housing to the probe body, and when the probe head and probe body are coupled, the electrical connector electrically couples the sensor to the electronics within the probe body. The probe head may be disposable.

Abstract: A probe head is disclosed that is detachable from a probe body containing electronics. The probe head including a housing enclosing a sensor and at least part of an electrical connector electrically coupled to the sensor. The housing has a coupling member positioned to detachably connect the housing to the probe body, and when the probe head and probe body are coupled, the electrical connector electrically couples the sensor to the electronics in the probe body.

Abstract: A process of assembling a probe that includes providing a circuit board that is connectable to a sensor and is connected to a first electrical connector and sliding a housing that has a first end and a second end over the circuit board. The process includes sealingly connecting the first end of the housing and the first electrical connector with a water-tight seal and sealing the second end of the housing with a water-tight seal. Also disclosed is a probe made by the disclosed processes and a sonde including a probe made by the disclosed processes.

Abstract: A housing for encapsulating a power supply for a sonde is disclosed. The housing includes an inner support over-molded with an outer sleeve. The inner support may be metal or plastic and may include an outer tube and an inner tube that are integral with one another with the outer tube providing the exterior surface of the inner support and being spaced apart from the inner tube except where the inner and outer tubes share a common arc. When both the inner support and the outer sleeve are plastic, the inner support includes a reinforced plastic and the outer sleeve includes a non-reinforced plastic.

Abstract: Turbidity heads for a turbidity sensor or probe and the resulting sensor are disclosed that include a light source providing an outgoing light ray, a photodetector capable of detecting an incoming light ray; an isolator separating the light source from the detector portion; and a first reflector in the path of either the outgoing light ray or the incoming light ray. The first reflector is positioned to reflect either the outgoing light ray or the incoming light ray to achieve a measurement angle defined between the outgoing light ray and the incoming light ray of ninety degrees plus-or-minus two and a half degrees to comply with the standard ISO 7027 for turbidity measurement.

Abstract: An acoustic Doppler system including an acoustic subsystem controller operatively connected to a plurality of acoustic transceivers, with a first of the plurality of acoustic transceivers, operating at a first acoustic frequency, operatively connected to a first group of at least one transducer, and a second of the plurality of acoustic transceivers, operating at a second acoustic frequency, operatively connected to a second group of at least one transducer, where the acoustic subsystem controller includes a digital circuit configured to sample analog signals received from the first and second groups of transducer in pairs having a pair-wise sampling frequency that is four times the operating frequency of associated acoustic transceiver.

Abstract: An underwater sensor device comprises a submersible housing including one or more housing components, one or more sensors for monitoring and collecting water characteristics, a controller for controlling operations of the one or more sensors and an graphical user interface mounted to the housing that displays the water environmental data. The housing defines a channel that extends through one of the housing components, and at least one of the sensors is mounted to the housing and extends into the channel. The controller is disposed within the housing and is operatively connected to the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A method of making a microfluidic module is disclosed that includes forming a fluid flow channel in a self-bonding rebondable polyimide film to provide a channel sheet, the self-bonding rebondable polyimide film having a first mask layer self-bonded thereto; removing the first mask layer from the channel sheet after forming the fluid flow channel; and self-bonding the surface of the channel sheet exposed by removal of the first mask layer to a cover sheet.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the flow of water in cross-section of a body of water is presented. The system and method comprises a housing having a first transducer and a plurality of second transducers, wherein the first transducer produces an acoustic signal for determining the depth of the body of water, and the second transducers each produce an acoustic signal for determining the velocity of a volume of water by measuring the Doppler frequency shift in the returned echo.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microfluidic device comprising at least one micro-aliquotter for dispensing fixed or variable volumes. The micro-aliquotter includes an rigid, dimensionally stable foundational layer having a fluid port therein that is in fluid communication with a channel within the microfluidic device, and an elastic film positioned on the foundational layer where the film covers the fluid port. The elastic film is sealed to the foundational layer so fluids entering through the fluid port can be captured between the elastic film and the foundational layer. The elastic film being expandable from a rest position on the foundational layer to a dispensing, or aliquotting, position in which an aliquot volume of a fluid is contained between the film and the foundational layer.

Abstract: A detachable, replaceable, and/or disposable probe head connectable to a probe body containing electronics, a probe that includes the probe head and the probe body, and the combination of a sonde and the probe are described herein. The probe head includes a housing that has a coupling member for detachably connecting the housing to the probe body, in particular to the electronics in the probe body. The probe head also includes a sensor and an electrical connector at least partially housed within the housing, and an operational amplifier electrically coupling the sensor to the electrical connector.

Abstract: A probe head is disclosed that is detachable from a probe body containing electronics. The probe head including a housing enclosing a sensor and at least part of an electrical connector electrically coupled to the sensor. The housing has a coupling member positioned to detachably connect the housing to the probe body, and when the probe head and probe body are coupled, the electrical connector electrically couples the sensor to the electronics in the probe body.

Abstract: A process of assembling a probe that includes providing a circuit board that is connectable to a sensor and is connected to a first electrical connector and sliding a housing that has a first end and a second end over the circuit board. The process includes sealingly connecting the first end of the housing and the first electrical connector with a water-tight seal and sealing the second end of the housing with a water-tight seal. Also disclosed is a probe made by the disclosed processes and a sonde including a probe made by the disclosed processes.

Abstract: Turbidity heads for a turbidity sensor or probe and the resulting sensor are disclosed that include a light source providing an outgoing light ray, a photodetector capable of detecting an incoming light ray; an isolator separating the light source from the detector portion; and a first reflector in the path of either the outgoing light ray or the incoming light ray. The first reflector is positioned to reflect either the outgoing light ray or the incoming light ray to achieve a measurement angle defined between the outgoing light ray and the incoming light ray of ninety degrees plus-or-minus two and a half degrees to comply with the standard ISO 7027 for turbidity measurement.

Abstract: An underwater sensor device comprises a submersible housing including one or more housing components, one or more sensors for monitoring and collecting water characteristics, a controller for controlling operations of the one or more sensors and an graphical user interface mounted to the housing that displays the water environmental data. The housing defines a channel that extends through one of the housing components, and at least one of the sensors is mounted to the housing and extends into the channel. The controller is disposed within the housing and is operatively connected to the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A method of making a microfluidic module is disclosed that includes forming a fluid flow channel in a self-bonding rebondable polyimide film to provide a channel sheet, the self-bonding rebondable polyimide film having a first mask layer self-bonded thereto; removing the first mask layer from the channel sheet after forming the fluid flow channel; and self-bonding the surface of the channel sheet exposed by removal of the first mask layer to a cover sheet.