Abstract: FSO systems rely on line-of-sight, and thus can be easily impaired due to disruptions such as atmospheric turbulence. There is a need for a more robust communication system allowing longer distances to be bridged and/or downtime to be reduced. An optical transmitter is provided generating at least one optical alignment beam. The transmitter comprises at least one alignment modulator, to modulate the alignment beam with transmitter directional data. A suitable receiver may demodulate this information and use the directional data from the transmitter to simplify the attainment and/or maintenance of a sufficient degree of alignment. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one alignment beam may be used to detect, characterize and/or monitor one or more environmental parameters.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device comprises a piezoelectric stack with a piezoelectric layer sandwiched between a bottom electrode and a top electrode to form a piezoelectric transducer. At least one of the bottom and top electrodes is a polymer electrode formed of a polymer based conductive material having a first resistivity. A conductive line structure is provided to forms an extended line contact with contact areas of the polymer electrode along a respective length of one or more conductive lines of the conductive line structure at least partially overlapping the contact areas. The conductive line structure is formed of a conductive material having a second resistivity that is lower than the first resistivity to help distribute an electrical field over the polymer electrode via the extended line contact.

Abstract: A heart monitoring system (100) comprises an array of force-sensitive resistors (10) spanning a sensor surface (50). Each resistor (10) is configured to change a respective resistance value (R) in accordance with an amount of static pressure (P) exerted on the sensor surface (50) at a respective location of the force-sensitive resistor (10) by a subject (200). An array of piezoelectric transducers (20) is interspersed among the array of force-sensitive resistors (10). Each transducer (20) is configured to generate 10 a respective time-dependent electrical signal (S) in accordance with respective vibrations (F) exerted on the sensor surface (50) at a respective location of the transducer (20) by the subject (200). A controller (30) is configured to determine a heart rate (H1) of the subject (200) based on a combination of the measured resistance values (R) of the force-sensitive 15 resistors (10) and the time-dependent electrical signals (S) of the piezoelectric transducers (20).

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a pressure sensor, comprising at least two adjacent electrically conductive leads disposed in a pattern on a face of a first elastomeric carrier; and an electrically resistive layer formed of a electrically resistive composite material for shunting the at least two adjacent electrically conductive leads, said electrically conducting layer disposed on a face of a second elastomeric carrier. The first and second carriers are stacked across a spacer such that the at least two adjacent electrically conductive leads faces the electrically resistive layer across a gap defined by the spacer. The gap is formed by a pocket between the carriers.