Abstract: A thermostatic valve assembly for an internal combustion engine cooling system. The thermostatic valve assembly including a valve housing and a plunger assembly. The valve housing includes a chamber, an inlet port, a radiator output port, and a bypass output port. The bypass output port including a flow opening. The plunger assembly being slideably secured within the chamber and moving between a first position to close the flow opening and a second position to open the flow opening. The plunger assembly comprises a body and at least one seal configured to seal the flow opening when in the first position.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide smart alerts to users, e.g., alerts to users about diabetic states that are only provided when it makes sense to do so, e.g., when the system can predict or estimate that the user is not already cognitively aware of their current condition, e.g., particularly where the current condition is a diabetic state warranting attention. In this way, the alert or alarm is personalized and made particularly effective for that user. Such systems and methods still alert the user when action is necessary, e.g., a bolus or temporary basal rate change, or provide a response to a missed bolus or a need for correction, but do not alert when action is unnecessary, e.g., if the user is already estimated or predicted to be cognitively aware of the diabetic state warranting attention, or if corrective action was already taken.

Abstract: An afocal sensor assembly detects a light beam with an aberrated wavefront. The afocal sensor assembly is configured to provide sorted four-dimensional (4D) light field information regarding the light beam, for example, via one or more plenoptic images. Based on the 4D light field information, a lossy reconstruction of an aberrated wavefront for one or more actuators of an adaptive optics (AO) device is performed. The AO device can be controlled based on the lossy reconstruction to correct the wavefront of the light beam. In some embodiments, the aberrated wavefront is due to passage of the light beam through atmospheric turbulence, and the lossy reconstruction and correction using the AO device is performed in less than 1.0 ms. The lossy reconstruction of the aberrated wavefront can have a phase accuracy in a range of ?/2 to ?/30.

Abstract: An electronic home plate provides assistance to an umpire in determining whether a pitch results in a “strike” or a “ball.” The home plate is implemented with LEDs producing discrete pulses of infrared light beams extending vertically. As a moving ball intersects the pulses, light from the pulses is scattered and incident on photodetectors embedded in the home plate, producing a series of data points. Two stages of light compensation compensate the data points for ambient light, first by applying an offset current to a photodetector through a PNP transistor, and second by subtracting a measurement immediately before a pulse from a measurement during the pulse. A processor then fits the data points to a curve, to compute vertical and lateral positions of the ball, thereby determining whether the pitch passed within a strike zone. Other applications may similarly analyze the trajectory of other projectiles for various purposes.

Abstract: An electronic home plate provides assistance to an umpire in determining whether a pitch results in a “strike” or a “ball.” The home plate is implemented with LEDs producing discrete pulses of infrared light beams extending vertically. As a moving ball intersects the pulses, light from the pulses is scattered and incident on photodetectors embedded in the home plate, producing a series of data points. Two stages of light compensation compensate the data points for ambient light, first by applying an offset current to a photodetector through a PNP transistor, and second by subtracting a measurement immediately before a pulse from a measurement during the pulse. A processor then fits the data points to a curve, to compute vertical and lateral positions of the ball, thereby determining whether the pitch passed within a strike zone. Other applications may similarly analyze the trajectory of other projectiles for various purposes.

Abstract: An electronic home plate providing assistance to an umpire in determination whether a pitch results in a “strike” or a “ball”. The electronic home plate is implemented with eye-safe LEDs producing light beams extending vertically. If a ball intersects the light beams, the light reflected from the ball is scattered and incident on photodetectors embedded in the home plate. A microcomputer embedded in the electronic home plate calculates the height of the ball crossing the light beams, and if the height falls between the top and bottom boundaries of a strike zone adjusted to the height of the batter, an indication system is activated to produce a “strike” signal. The microcomputer in the electronic home plate is further configured to calculate speed of the ball passing over the home plate, and the lateral position of the ball.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and computer program products are directed to mobility control and performance prediction in directional wireless networks. Network coverage and connectivity are optimized. Convex and non-convex network modeling is implemented to provide adaptive topology control and mobility control within the network, whereby communication links are retained, released, or reconfigured based on their communication role within the network architecture. Optionally or alternatively, network health is monitored, future network failure or degradation conditions are predicted, and the network reconfigures responsive to the predictions to avoid the failure or degradation conditions.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) scene projector device includes a light emitter and a thermal emitter. The light emitter is configured to selectably provide visible light. The thermal emitter includes a vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACN) array. The VACN array includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes disposed proximate to a thermally conductive substrate, such that a longitudinal axis of the carbon nanotubes extends substantially perpendicular to a surface of the substrate. The thermal emitter absorbs the visible light from the light emitter and converts the visible light from the light emitter into IR radiation.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) scene projector device includes a light emitter and a thermal emitter. The light emitter is configured to selectably provide visible light. The thermal emitter includes a vertically aligned carbon nanotube (VACN) array. The VACN array includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes disposed proximate to a thermally conductive substrate, such that a longitudinal axis of the carbon nanotubes extends substantially perpendicular to a surface of the substrate. The thermal emitter absorbs the visible light from the light emitter and converts the visible light from the light emitter into IR radiation.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, and computer program products are directed to mobility control and performance prediction in directional wireless networks. Network coverage and connectivity are optimized. Convex and non-convex network modeling is implemented to provide adaptive topology control and mobility control within the network, whereby communication links are retained, released, or reconfigured based on their communication role within the network architecture. Optionally or alternatively, network health is monitored, future network failure or degradation conditions are predicted, and the network reconfigures responsive to the predictions to avoid the failure or degradation conditions.

Abstract: In a sensor system, an active sensor chip includes an array of periodically-patterned dielectric active sensor patches of different periodicities and geometries formed on a metal film. A specimen under study is positioned on each patch, and the active sensor chip is interrogated by illumination the patches in a predetermined sequence to result in a fluorescence response from each patch enhanced by SPP. The intensity of the fluorescence response is controlled by varying the wavelength, incidence angle, azimuthal orientation and polarization direction of the excitation light beam as the function of the periodicity of the illuminated patch. The system is compatible with commercial fluorescence microscopes and scanned laser interrogation systems.

Abstract: Plasmonic systems and devices that utilize surface plasmon polaritons (or “plasmons”) for inter-chip and/or intra-chip communications are provided. A plasmonic system includes a microchip that has an integrated circuit module and a plasmonic device configured to interface with the integrated circuit module. The plasmonic device includes a first electrode, a second electrode positioned at a non-contact distance from the first electrode, and a tunneling-junction configured to create a plasmon when a potential difference is created between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: In a sensor system, an active sensor chip includes an array of periodically-patterned dielectric active sensor patches of different periodicities and geometries formed on a metal film. A specimen under study is positioned on each patch, and the active sensor chip is interrogated by illumination the patches in a predetermined sequence to result in a fluorescence response from each patch enhanced by SPP. The intensity of the fluorescence response is controlled by varying the wavelength, incidence angle, azimuthal orientation and polarization direction of the excitation light beam as the function of the periodicity of the illuminated patch. The system is compatible with commercial fluorescence microscopes and scanned laser interrogation systems.

Abstract: A far-field optical microscope capable of reaching nanometer-scale resolution using the in-plane image magnification by surface plasmon polaritons is presented. The microscope utilizes a microscopy technique based on the optical properties of a metal-dielectric interface that may, in principle, provide extremely large values of the effective refractive index neff up to 102-103 as seen by the surface plasmons. Thus, the theoretical diffraction limit on resolution becomes ?/2neff, and falls into the nanometer-scale range. The experimental realization of the microscope has demonstrated the optical resolution better than 50 nm for 502 nm illumination wavelength.

Abstract: A far-field optical microscope capable of reaching nanometer-scale resolution using the in-plane image magnification by surface plasmon polaritons is presented. The microscope utilizes a microscopy technique based on the optical properties of a metal-dielectric interface that may, in principle, provide extremely large values of the effective refractive index neff up to 102-103 as seen by the surface plasmons. Thus, the theoretical diffraction limit on resolution becomes ?/2neff, and falls into the nanometer-scale range. The experimental realization of the microscope has demonstrated the optical resolution better than 50 nm for 502 nm illumination wavelength.

Abstract: Plasmonic systems and devices that utilize surface plasmon polaritons (or “plasmons”) for inter-chip and/or intra-chip communications are provided. A plasmonic system includes a microchip that has an integrated circuit module and a plasmonic device configured to interface with the integrated circuit module. The plasmonic device includes a first electrode, a second electrode positioned at a non-contact distance from the first electrode, and a tunneling-junction configured to create a plasmon when a potential difference is created between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A system and method for optical wireless communication with fading resistance. A delayed diversity approach reduces fading significantly. Data is sent in a set of light signals (also called diverse light signals) which each have a different polarization and/or a different wavelength. The diverse light signals are also temporally different in that they are transmitted in a delayed fashion with respect to one another. In this way, each light signal is carried over a different, uncorrelated “channel” through the atmosphere. At a receiver, original data in each received light signals is temporally adjusted and combined into a single output data signal. The accuracy of each bit in the output data signal is then due to the reception of the combined diverse light signals.

Abstract: In a free space communication network in which different communication nodes are linked together by directed beams, a method for dynamically configuring the topology of the network allows the transmission directions of the communication nodes to be autonomously changed to communicate with a new node as dictated by the needs of the network. Moreover, the nodes can be switched from directional to broadcast and back again on an as-needed basis. The network consists of a topology that can be rapidly and physically reconfigured as required to provide multiple connectivity, a desired quality of service, or to compensate with the loss of communication links between nodes. The loss of direct communication between any two nodes in an optical network can occur because of obscuration of the atmospheric path between the two nodes. The directed beam which provides the communication channel between the two nodes can, in this situation, be steered to direct its energy towards another accessible node.

Abstract: A system (10) for optical processing based on light-controlled photon tunneling is provided. The system (10) includes a prism (12) having a metallic film layer (14) formed on an upper surface thereof. The metallic film layer (14) has a microscopic aperture (18) formed therethrough and the microscopic aperture (18) is covered by a layer of non-linear optical film. A first light beam (30) is projected towards aperture (18) and photons from first light beam (30) tunnel through aperture (18). A second light beam (32) is also projected towards microscopic aperture (18), with the second light beam (32) having a different wavelength than that of light beam (30). Selective actuation and modulation of light beam (32) allows for selective control over the rate and intensity of the photons which tunnel through microscopic aperture (18).

Abstract: A system (10) for optical processing based on light-controlled photon tunneling is provided. The system (10) includes a prism (12) having a metallic film layer (14) formed on an upper surface thereof. The metallic film layer (14) has a microscopic aperture (18) formed therethrough and the microscopic aperture (18) is covered by a layer of non-linear optical film. A first light beam (30) is projected towards aperture (18) and photons from first light beam (30) tunnel through aperture (18). A second light beam (32) is also projected towards microscopic aperture (18), with the second light beam (32) having a different wavelength than that of light beam (30). Selective actuation and modulation of light beam (32) allows for selective control over the rate and intensity of the photons which tunnel through microscopic aperture (18).