Abstract: A system for determining the absolute position of a first object with respect to a second object includes a scalar element attached to the first object and a measuring device attached to the second object. The scalar element comprises a series of coded regions. The coded region represents a number designating a position along an axis of the scalar element. The measuring device includes a two-dimensional optical sensor array configured to capture an image of a portion of the scalar element. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the image and determine an absolute position of the first object with respect to the second object based on at least one coded region of the series of coded regions.

Abstract: A system for determining the absolute position of a first object with respect to a second object includes a scalar element attached to the first object and a measuring device attached to the second object. The scalar element comprises a series of coded regions. The coded region represents a number designating a position along an axis of the scalar element. The measuring device includes a two-dimensional optical sensor array configured to capture an image of a portion of the scalar element. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the image and determine an absolute position of the first object with respect to the second object based on at least one coded region of the series of coded regions.

Abstract: A system for determining the absolute position of a first object with respect to a second object includes a scalar element attached to the first object and a measuring device attached to the second object. The scalar element comprises a series of coded regions. The coded region represents a number designating a position along an axis of the scalar element. The measuring device includes a two-dimensional optical sensor array configured to capture an image of a portion of the scalar element. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the image and determine an absolute position of the first object with respect to the second object based on at least one coded region of the series of coded regions.

Abstract: A system for determining the absolute position of a first object with respect to a second object includes a scalar element attached to the first object and a measuring device attached to the second object. The scalar element comprises a series of coded regions. The coded region represents a number designating a position along an axis of the scalar element. The measuring device includes a two-dimensional optical sensor array configured to capture an image of a portion of the scalar element. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the image and determine an absolute position of the first object with respect to the second object based on at least one coded region of the series of coded regions.

Abstract: A system for determining the absolute position of a first object with respect to a second object includes a scalar element attached to the first object and a measuring device attached to the second object. The scalar element comprises a series of coded regions. The coded region represents a number designating a position along an axis of the scalar element. The measuring device includes a two-dimensional optical sensor array configured to capture an image of a portion of the scalar element. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the image and determine an absolute position of the first object with respect to the second object based on at least one coded region of the series of coded regions.

Abstract: A system for determining the absolute position of a first object with respect to a second object includes a scalar element attached to the first object and a measuring device attached to the second object. The scalar element comprises a series of coded regions. The coded region represents a number designating a position along an axis of the scalar element. The measuring device includes a two-dimensional optical sensor array configured to capture an image of a portion of the scalar element. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the image and determine an absolute position of the first object with respect to the second object based on at least one coded region of the series of coded regions.

Abstract: A linear moving coil magnetic drive system includes a continuous loop coil of flat, thin, rigid construction which levitates inside a quadrupole permanent magnet assembly with minimum gap. The linear coil may be a flat, racetrack-shaped, continuous loop, which may be constructed with single or multilayers PCB, flex-circuit, or other membrane process. The linear coil may include a coating of permeable magnetic material along the insulated conductor traces. The linear coil may be sandwiched between carbon fiber fabrics and cured to create a long, flat, thin and perfectly straight, extremely stiff, light-weight, load-bearing tee-shaped structure. This structure is levitated inside a quadrupole permanent magnetic assembly with minimum air gap between the high gauss magnets. In additional to the bare conductor traces inside this coil, also integrated into this PCB structure, is simple second-order equalizer electronic circuitry, comprised of surface-mounted resistors, capacitors, and IC chips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dosing device for dispensing and/or receiving a dosed amount of a liquid, comprising a piston device being disposed in a housing and a device for determining the stroke of the piston and/or the position of the piston, wherein the device for determining the stroke of the piston and/or the position of the piston features at least one scalar element and at least one measuring device, wherein the scalar element is fixedly disposed at the housing of the piston device and the measuring device is directly or indirectly connected to the piston and can be moved together with the piston, or wherein the scalar element is disposed at the piston so as to be movable with the piston and the measuring device is fixedly disposed at the housing, and wherein the scalar element is designed as an absolutely coded scale.

Abstract: A linear moving coil magnetic drive system includes a continuous loop coil of flat, thin, rigid construction which levitates inside a quadrupole permanent magnet assembly with minimum gap. The linear coil may be a flat, racetrack-shaped, continuous loop, which may be constructed with single or multilayers PCB, flex-circuit, or other membrane process. The linear coil may include a coating of permeable magnetic material along the insulated conductor traces. The linear coil may be sandwiched between carbon fiber fabrics and cured to create a long, flat, thin and perfectly straight, extremely stiff, light-weight, load-bearing tee-shaped structure. This structure is levitated inside a quadrupole permanent magnetic assembly with minimum air gap between the high gauss magnets. In additional to the bare conductor traces inside this coil, also integrated into this PCB structure, is simple second-order equalizer electronic circuitry, comprised of surface-mounted resistors, capacitors, and IC chips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dosing device for dispensing and/or receiving a dosed amount of a liquid, comprising a piston device being disposed in a housing and a device for determining the stroke of the piston and/or the position of the piston, wherein the device for determining the stroke of the piston and/or the position of the piston features at least one scalar element and at least one measuring device, wherein the scalar element is fixedly disposed at the housing of the piston device and the measuring device is directly or indirectly connected to the piston and can be moved together with the piston, or wherein the scalar element is disposed at the piston so as to be movable with the piston and the measuring device is fixedly disposed at the housing, and wherein the scalar element is designed as an absolutely coded scale.

Abstract: A system for determining the absolute position of a first object with respect to a second object includes a scalar element attached to the first object and a measuring device attached to the second object. The scalar element comprises a series of coded regions. The coded region represents a number designating a position along an axis of the scalar element. The measuring device includes a two-dimensional optical sensor array configured to capture an image of a portion of the scalar element. The system also includes a processor configured to receive the image and determine an absolute position of the first object with respect to the second object based on at least one coded region of the series of coded regions.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods that test authentication information on a fuel cartridge. A controller on a device that interfaces with the cartridge tests and validates the authentication information before permitting fuel provision from the cartridge. The authentication information can be used to prevent unauthorized cartridges from providing fuel. This permits the device to ensure that the cartridge, its manufacturer, and/or its contents are acceptable. Authentication information stored in a cartridge memory may also be encrypted.

Abstract: An analytical device that can be used to conveniently and accurately assay plural vessels. In one exemplary embodiment, a pair of LED sources provides illumination through a pair of radial waveguides to plural vessels arranged in a pair of substantially concentric and circular rows about the LED sources. A light pipe receives light transmitted through a vessel from each radial waveguide and reflects the received light downward to a single printed circuit board that contains a photodiode for each light pipe, as well as processing circuitry. The first LED source/radial waveguide optical is used to confirm the presence of a vessel, and the second is used to perform, e.g., turbidometric and/or calorimetric assays upon an analyte within the vessel. The vessel is incubated in a vessel support that includes a heat conducting base and a heat insulating cover. Heat is supplied by a DC heater.

Abstract: An analytical device that can be used to conveniently and accurately assay plural vessels. In one exemplary embodiment, a pair of LED sources provides illumination through a pair of radial waveguides to plural vessels arranged in a pair of substantially concentric and circular rows about the LED sources. A light pipe receives light transmitted through a vessel from each radial waveguide and reflects the received light downward to a single printed circuit board that contains a photodiode for each light pipe, as well as processing circuitry. The first LED source/radial waveguide optical is used to confirm the presence of a vessel, and the second is used to perform, e.g., turbidometric and/or colorimetric assays upon an analyte within the vessel. The vessel is incubated in a vessel support that includes a heat conducting base and a heat insulating cover. Heat is supplied by a DC heater.