Abstract: The disclosure describes techniques for detecting a crack or defect in a material. The techniques may include determining, by a computing device (12), for each respective adjacent pair of electrodes of a plurality of electrodes (18A-18L) electrically coupled to a material (16), a respective electrode pair voltage. The techniques also may include determining, by the computing device, for each respective adjacent pair of electrodes, a respective temperature-corrected electrode pair value based on the respective electrode pair voltage and at least one of a respective control voltage associated with the respective adjacent pair of electrodes or a temperature correction factor. The techniques further may include determining, by the computing device, whether the material includes a crack or defect based on the plurality of respective temperature-corrected electrode pair values.

Abstract: A measurement system may include control electronics; an electrical signal source; a plurality of measurement system electrical contacts; at least one feature for repeatably electrically connecting the plurality of measurement system electrical contacts to selected locations of a tested material. The control electronics may be configured to cause the electrical signal source to output an electrical signal; determine a measured voltage in response to the electrical signal using a measurement electrical contact from the plurality of measurement system electrical contacts. The measurement electrical contact is electrically coupled to the tested material. The control electronics also may be configured to determine whether the tested material includes a crack or other defect based on the measured voltage.

Abstract: A method may include coupling a first electrical connector of an article to a second electrical connector of a measurement device. The article may include a tested material, the first electrical connector, and a plurality of electrical contacts electrically connected to the first electrical connector. The measurement device may include a power source and a user interface. The method also may include causing, by a controller, an electrical signal to be applied to a pair of drive electrical contacts from the plurality of electrical contacts. The method further may include receiving, by the controller, from an analog-to-digital converter, a measured voltage measured using a measurement electrical contact from the plurality of electrical contacts. The method also may include determining, by the controller, whether the tested material includes a crack or other defect based on the measured voltage.

Abstract: Optical systems are described that include a switchable diffuser, a display panel, a lighting component and a diffuser controller. The diffuser controller is configured to switch the state of the switchable diffuser when the diffuser controller determines that the diffuser state is to be changed. The diffuser controller may be configured to vary an output level of the display panel in association with a change in state of the switchable diffuser. The optical system may also include a switching device which may be separable from the display panel.

Abstract: Optical systems are described that include a switchable diffuser, a display panel, a lighting component and a diffuser controller. The diffuser controller is configured to switch the state of the switchable diffuser when the diffuser controller determines that the diffuser state is to be changed. The diffuser controller may be configured to vary an output level of the display panel in association with a change in state of the switchable diffuser. The optical system may also include a switching device which may be separable from the display panel.

Abstract: A biomedical sensor system. The system can include a sensor adapted to create a signal based on a physiological characteristic from a subject, and a hub adapted to receive the signal from the sensor. The signal can include at least one of an electromagnetic signal, an electrical signal, an acoustic signal, a mechanical signal, a thermal signal, and a chemical signal. The system can further include a connector adapted to couple the sensor and the hub, the connector having a variable length, such that the sensor and the hub can be positioned a variable distance apart by changing the length of the connector. The connector can be adapted to provide a pathway between the sensor and the hub for the signal. A method of applying a biomedical sensor system to a subject can include changing the length of the variable-length connector to provide an appropriate distance between the sensor and the hub, and coupling the sensor to the subject.

Abstract: A biomedical sensor system. The system can include a sensor adapted to create a signal based on a physiological characteristic from a subject, and a hub adapted to receive the signal from the sensor. The signal can include at least one of an electromagnetic signal, an electrical signal, an acoustic signal, a mechanical signal, a thermal signal, and a chemical signal. The system can further include a connector adapted to couple the sensor and the hub, the connector having a variable length, such that the sensor and the hub can be positioned a variable distance apart by changing the length of the connector. The connector can be adapted to provide a pathway between the sensor and the hub for the signal. A method of applying a biomedical sensor system to a subject can include changing the length of the variable-length connector to provide an appropriate distance between the sensor and the hub, and coupling the sensor to the subject.

Abstract: The invention relates to a volumetrically efficient solenoid antenna fabricated on or within a substrate, such as a printed circuit board. The antenna may be used in many applications requiring a short-range wireless communication or sensing link, such as RFID systems, badge readers, contactless connectors, proximity sensors, and short-range data links. The antenna may be, for example, fabricated on or within a printed circuit board of an RFID reader, thereby enabling a perpendicular orientation of the RFID reader with respect to the z-axis of an RFID tag, where the x-y axes are the length and width of the tag. This perpendicular orientation enables the user to point or aim the RFID reader directly at the RFID tag for efficient information transfer between the reader and a single tag in a multiple tag environment.

Abstract: Techniques are described for performing a one-touch search to locate a selected item associated with an RFID tag. The techniques allow, for example, an RFID reader to perform a search where a user selects an item from a list, and the RFID reader, without any further input from the user, interrogates one or more RFID tags until an RFID tag associated with the selected item is found. The RFID reader may also allow a user to associate items with an RFID tag, view items associated with an RFID tag, and edit item lists associated with an RFID tag. In this way, an RFID reader may associate any number of items to an RFID tag, repeatedly edit existing item lists associated with an RFID tag, and quickly search multiple RFID tags until a desired item associated with a particular RFID tag is found.

Abstract: Apparatus controllably breaks hollow spheres stored in an enclosure. A first screen is disposed within the enclosure on a screen support. The screen has holes that are no larger in mesh size than the smallest hollow spheres. The screen support provides support to the first screen and has void areas to allow debris from broken spheres to pass through. An impeller is in contact with the first screen such that movement of the impeller across the first screen breaks the hollow spheres in contact with the first screen.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with a fiber optic data channel includes a configuration block that determines the configuration of a communication port associated with the apparatus. The apparatus further includes multiplexer/transmitter for transmitting data and configuration information to a distant apparatus and a receiver/demultiplexer for receiving data and configuration information from the distant apparatus.

Abstract: A transmitter for a data communication system includes a self configuration register for storing information about the configuration of a local data communication port and a data input register for storing data received from the port to be transmitted and a multiplexer for multiplexing information stored in the self configuration register into configuration data packets and information stored in the data input register into message data packets and transmitting those data packets over an optical fiber. A receiver for a data communication system includes a demultiplexer, an-other configuration register and an output register. The demultiplexer receives data, demultiplexes it and stores it in the output register. The output register transmits information in configuration data packets to the other configuration register and information in message data packets to the local data port.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with a fiber optic data channel includes a configuration block that determines the configuration of a communication port associated with the apparatus. The apparatus further includes multiplexer/transmitter for transmitting data and configuration information to a distant apparatus and a receiver/demultiplexer for receiving data and configuration information from the distant apparatus.