Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling tintable windows based on cloud detection.

Abstract: In one illustrative configuration, an air quality monitoring system may enable wide-scale deployment of multiple air quality monitors with high-confidence and actionable data is provided. Further, the air quality monitoring system may enable identifying a target emission from a plurality of potential sources at a site based on simulating plume models. The simulation of plume models may take into consideration various simulation parameters including wind speed and direction. Further, methods of determining a plume flux of a plume of emissions at a site, and methods of transmitting data from an air quality monitor are disclosed.

Abstract: A LIBS analysis system comprises a focusing lens arrangement having a focal plane; a laser for propagating a laser beam through the focusing lens arrangement to be focused at the focal plane; a detector for generating an output that is proportional to an intensity of incident electromagnetic radiation that is incident on the detector; a translation mechanism configured to cause a relative movement of the sample holder and the focusing lens arrangement to vary a position of the focal plane along the optical path with respect to the sample holder; and a controller configured to automatically control the translation mechanism to cause the relative movement of the sample holder and the focusing lens arrangement to achieve an optimum position at which the focal plane and an analysis region of the upper surface intersecting the optical path are at or are close to coincidence.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a sensor arrangement including a first LIDAR and at least a second LIDAR sensor, wherein the first LIDAR sensor and the second LIDAR sensor(s) each repeatedly carry out measurements, wherein the measurements of the first and the second LIDAR sensors are carried out in respective first and second measuring time windows, at the beginning of which respective measurement beams are emitted by the first and the second LIDAR sensors and a check is made as to whether at least one reflected beam portion of the respective measurement beams is detected within the respective measuring first or second time windows.

Abstract: A system has detectors configured to receive a beam of light reflected from a wafer. For example, three detectors may be used. Each of the detectors is a different channel. Images from the detectors are combined into a pseudo-color RGB image. A convolutional neural network unit (CNN) can receive the pseudo-color RGB image and determine a size of a defect in the pseudo-color RGB image. The CNN also can classify the defect into a size category.

Abstract: In some examples, fiber optic virtual sensing may include generating, by a virtual sensor generator that is operatively connected to a device under test (DUT), at least one virtual sensor along the DUT. A DUT interrogator may be operatively connected to the DUT to transmit a stimulus optical signal into the DUT. The DUT interrogator may analyze reflected light resulting from the transmitted stimulus optical signal. The DUT interrogator may determine, based on the analysis of the reflected light, an attribute of the DUT sensed by the at least one virtual sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus for laser induced ablation spectroscopy (LIBS) is disclosed. An apparatus can have a computer, a pulsed laser and a lightguide fiber bundle that is subdivided into branches. One branch can convey a first portion of the light to a first optical spectrometer and a different branch can convey a second portion of the light to another optical spectrometer. The first spectrometer can be relatively wideband to analyze a relative wide spectral segment and the other spectrometer can be high dispersion to measure minor concentrations. The apparatus can further comprise an unbranched lightguide fiber bundle to provide more light to a low sensitivity spectrometer. The apparatus can include an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer ICP-MS and a computer instructions operable to provide normalized LIBS/ICP-MS composition analyses.

Abstract: A method of scanning a substrate and determining scratches of the substrate includes transmitting a converging beam of light that comprises multiple wavelengths to the substrate. Each wavelength of the multiple wavelengths focuses at a different distance in a focus interval around and including a surface of the substrate. The method also includes receiving reflected light from the surface of the substrate and determining a height or depth of the surface of the substrate based on a wavelength of the reflected light having a highest intensity.

Abstract: A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) apparatus is provided that includes an optical source configured to emit an optical beam. The LIDAR apparatus further includes free space optics configured to receive a first portion of the optical beam as a target signal and a second portion of the optical beam as a local oscillator signal, and combine the target signal and the local oscillator signal. The LIDAR apparatus includes a multi-mode (MM) waveguide configured to receive the combined signal.

Abstract: A mobile surface inspection system having a base, at least one extendable arm coupled to the base, a hollow tubular member coupled to the base, and a processor, and a method of using the same. The base has at least one front leg, at least one back leg, and at least one wheel. The extendable arm has four extension members and there is a pivotable joint connected to the fourth extension member. A light fixture is removably connected to the pivotable joint. The processor is configured to receive an image of the surface when illuminated by the light fixture, apply a high-pass filter to the image, identify surface imperfections from the filtered image. and output a position for each of the surface imperfections.

Abstract: In one embodiment, systems and methods include using a workforce augmenting inspection device (“WAND”) to measure a parameter of an aircraft. The WAND comprises a body, wherein the body comprises one or more buttons configured to actuate the WAND to perform one or more functions. The WAND further comprises a head comprising a camera and a light source, wherein the light source is disposed around the camera operable to produce light in conjunction with operation of the camera, wherein the camera is operable to capture an image within a scope of view of the camera. The WAND further comprises a standoff wheel, wherein the standoff wheel is operable to rotate independently of the head. The WAND further comprises a power source operable to provide power to the WAND, wherein the power source comprises a controller configured to actuate the head, camera, and light source.

Abstract: In one illustrative configuration, an air quality monitoring system may enable wide-scale deployment of multiple air quality monitors with high-confidence and actionable data is provided. Further, the air quality monitoring system may enable identifying a target emission from a plurality of potential sources at a site based on simulating plume models. The simulation of plume models may take into consideration various simulation parameters including wind speed and direction. Further, methods of determining a plume flux of a plume of emissions at a site, and methods of transmitting data from an air quality monitor are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a metal separator includes a step of detecting deflection of the metal separator with a height detector, a step of displacing the metal separator or an imaging device in a height direction according to the deflection of the metal separator to keep a distance between the imaging device and an imaging portion of the metal separator constant, and a step of imaging a weld portion with the imaging device.

Abstract: A system of optical sensors determines whether an object is placed on the system by passing light through the sensor layer, detecting light reflected from the object above the sensor layer, and identifying the object based on whether a color detected in the light corresponds to a color of the side of the object that is positioned on the system over the sensor layer. When the system includes multiple optical sensor units, the system may determine where the object has been placed by determining which of the sensor units detect light reflected from the side of the object.

Abstract: A method of detecting defects in a structure sample comprising a thin film layer and a sacrificial later is disclosed. The method comprises exposing the thin film layer to a vapour phase etchant, obtaining an image of the thin film layer and analysing the image. The vapour phase etchant enhances any defects present in the thin film layer by passing through the defect and etching a cavity within the sacrificial layer. The cavity undercuts the thin film layer resulting in a stress region surrounding the defect. Defects which were not originally detectable may be made detectable after exposure to the vapour phase etchant. A vapour phase etchant has the advantage of being highly mobile such that it can access defects that a liquid phase etchant might not. Furthermore, unlike a liquid phase etchant, a vapour phase etchant can be used to test a sample non-destructively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and a method for ascertaining a color recipe which produces a color product with a specified hue after an application onto a specified substrate using a specified application method. The method has the steps of: a) providing a database with a plurality of data sets, b) specifying a target application method, a target substrate, and a desired target hue by means of a user, c) searching the database using a computer program, and d) when at least one suitable database has been found in step c), displaying the information stored in the at least one data set, said information relating to the color recipe, wherein at least one of the data sets also comprises information on at least one reference hue, a reference application method, and a reference substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments include a method for retrieving atmospheric aerosol based on statistical segmentation. Firstly a multi-band remote sensing image including an apparent reflectance and an aerosol optical thickness look-up table corresponding to a retrieval band is obtained, then pixels are partitioned and screened according to apparent reflectance segments of a mid-infrared 2.1 micrometer band. After that the retained pixel sets are further partitioned and screened according to the apparent reflectance segments of the mid-infrared 1.6 micrometer band. Finally the obtained pixel sets are partitioned into two categories according to the pixel number, one category including pixels having more pixels, the other including those with less pixels. The category with more pixels is taken as the reference part for retrieval.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an image obtaining unit configured to obtain an image, a first determining unit configured to determine a first image range to be used in making a determination related to inspection of an inspection target included in the image, based on a detection result of the inspection target from the image, and a second determining unit configured to determine a second image range to be used in recording an inspection result of the inspection target, the second image range being an image range indicating a wider range than a range indicated by the first image range.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for identifying compounds that cause structural changes in tau protein monomer and oligomer conformation. The methods include the use of cells that include tau proteins labeled with one or more chromophores, and exposing the cells to a test compound. The method further includes detecting a change in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the chromophores.

Abstract: A device may receive a master data set for a first spectroscopic model; receive a target data set for a target population associated with the first spectroscopic model to update the first spectroscopic model; generate a training data set that includes the master data set and first data from the target data set; generate a validation data set that includes second data from the target data set and not the master data set; generate, using cross-validation and using the training data set and the validation data set, a second spectroscopic model that is an update of the first spectroscopic model; and provide the second spectroscopic model.