Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an automated optical system for detection of a sanitary condition of a button, the system comprising a button housing defining a button-receiving cavity and comprising an inner side; a button disposed in the button-receiving cavity; an optical assembly to capture an optical signal of the button; a sanitary condition detection assembly to detect a predetermined sanitary condition of the button from information derived from the captured optical signal; and a disinfecting system for disinfecting the button. It also concerns a corresponding method.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are presented for monitoring a concentration of a specific halogen in a body of water such as a spa or bathing unit for example. The apparatus comprises a housing in which is positioned an optical absorption analyzer for making first and second measurement of transmission of ultraviolet light from a light source emitting light at a specific wavelength. The second and first measurements are taken respectively before and after the ultraviolet light has travelled through a sample of water and are used to derive a concentration of the specific halogen. The derived concentration may then be communicated to a user using a display device and/or may be used to control operational components of a bathing unit for adjusting the concentration of halogen in the water.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are presented for monitoring a concentration of a specific halogen in a body of water such as a spa or bathing unit for example. The apparatus comprises a housing in which is positioned an optical absorption analyzer for making first and second measurement of transmission of ultraviolet light from a light source emitting light at a specific wavelength. The second and first measurements are taken respectively before and after the ultraviolet light has travelled through a sample of water and are used to derive a concentration of the specific halogen. The derived concentration may then be communicated to a user using a display device and/or may be used to control operational components of a bathing unit for adjusting the concentration of halogen in the water.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are presented for monitoring a concentration of a specific halogen in a body of water such as a spa or bathing unit for example. The apparatus comprises a housing in which is positioned an optical absorption analyzer for making first and second measurement of transmission of ultraviolet light from a light source emitting light at a specific wavelength. The second and first measurements are taken respectively before and after the ultraviolet light has travelled through a sample of water and are used to derive a concentration of the specific halogen. The derived concentration may then be communicated to a user using a display device and/or may be used to control operational components of a bathing unit for adjusting the concentration of halogen in the water.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are presented for monitoring a concentration of a specific halogen in a body of water such as a spa or bathing unit for example. The apparatus comprises a housing in which is positioned an optical absorption analyzer for making first and second measurement of transmission of ultraviolet light from a light source emitting light at a specific wavelength. The second and first measurements are taken respectively before and after the ultraviolet light has travelled through a sample of water and are used to derive a concentration of the specific halogen. The derived concentration may then be communicated to a user using a display device and/or may be used to control operational components of a bathing unit for adjusting the concentration of halogen in the water.

Abstract: An energy harvesting wind sensor is provided for an awning assembly. The device is self-powering in that energy is converted from wind to electrical in order to power the sensor and a transmitter which signals a receiver to retract the awning assembly if a preselected threshold is met or exceeded. Since the system converts wind energy to electrical energy, wiring is not needed to extend along the moving or rotating parts of the awning assembly.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are presented for monitoring a concentration of a specific halogen in a body of water such as a spa or bathing unit for example. The apparatus comprises a housing in which is positioned an optical absorption analyzer for making first and second measurement of transmission of ultraviolet light from a light source emitting light at a specific wavelength. The second and first measurements are taken respectively before and after the ultraviolet light has travelled through a sample of water and are used to derive a concentration of the specific halogen. The derived concentration may then be communicated to a user using a display device and/or may be used to control operational components of a bathing unit for adjusting the concentration of halogen in the water.

Abstract: A method for thawing frozen food provided in a thawing appliance, the thawing appliance having a membrane forming a barrier between the frozen food and a fluid, the fluid at least partly surrounding the frozen food in use to transfer heat from the fluid to a corresponding surface area of the frozen food, the method including: controlling the fluid 5 at a thawing temperature; monitoring a state of the thawing of the frozen food and generating a state indicator; and controlling the fluid at a conservation temperature when the state indicator indicates a thawing completion state.

Abstract: A safety marker apparatus comprising a hollow body including at least four vertex elements interconnected by flexible resilient rods, the body being adapted to be compressed into a stowed state upon application of an external force and expanded into a deployed state, the flexible resilient rods forcing the hollow body to adopt the deployed state in an absence of the external force. In one embodiment, an illumination sub-system is provided in at least one vertex element.

Abstract: A safety marker apparatus comprising a hollow body including at least four vertex elements interconnected by flexible resilient rods, the body being adapted to be compressed into a stowed state upon application of an external force and expanded into a deployed state, the flexible resilient rods forcing the hollow body to adopt the deployed state in an absence of the external force. In one embodiment, an illumination sub-system is provided in at least one vertex element.

Abstract: A method for radiometric calibration of an infrared detector, the infrared detector measuring a radiance received from a scene under observation, the method comprising: providing calculated calibration coefficients; acquiring a scene count of the radiance detected from the scene; calculating a scene flux from the scene count using the calculated calibration coefficients; determining and applying a gain-offset correction using the calculated calibration coefficients to obtain a uniform scene flux. In one embodiment, the method further includes transforming the uniform scene flux to a radiometric temperature using the calculated calibration coefficients.

Abstract: A method and device for cleaning at least an end face of an optical device retained within an optical connector using a cleaning fabric, comprises, alone or in combination, a) preventing the cleaning fabric from contacting the connector prior to contacting the end face of the optical device; b) a cleaning nose being made of a nose material having a hardness less than that of a material of the optical device with a flexural modulus greater than 2700 MPa and c) ensuring a constant tension on the fabric as it is circulated.