Abstract: A system that allows an electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) railcar to be optionally selected as the ECP End of Train (EOT) device when that car is positioned at the end of a train regardless of its physical orientation. This eliminates the requirement to use and install a traditional End of Train (EOT) device at the end of an ECP train while maintaining the same train integrity monitoring functionality that is typically provided for train brake-in-two detection and closed cut-out cock detection. The system also eliminates the requirement for a dedicated EOT device at the end of the train for ECP “RUN” Mode operation, and allows any ECP car to function normally as part of the train or act as the EOT device when selected.

Abstract: A system that allows an electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) railcar to be optionally selected as the ECP End of Train (EOT) device when that car is positioned at the end of a train regardless of its physical orientation. This eliminates the requirement to use and install a traditional End of Train (EOT) device at the end of an ECP train while maintaining the same train integrity monitoring functionality that is typically provided for train brake-in-two detection and closed cut-out cock detection. The system also eliminates the requirement for a dedicated EOT device at the end of the train for ECP “RUN” Mode operation, and allows any ECP car to function normally as part of the train or act as the EOT device when selected.

Abstract: A device for optically detecting and distinguishing airborne liquid water droplets and ice crystals includes an illumination portion and a detection portion. The illumination portion outputs a circularly polarized illuminating beam. The detection portion receives circularly polarized backscattered light from moisture in the cloud, in response to the illuminating beam. The circularly polarized backscattered light is passed through a circular polarizer to convert it into linearly polarized backscattered light, which is split into two components. Each of the two components is optionally subject to further linear polarization to filter out any leakage-type orthogonal polarization. The two components are then optically detected and the resulting detection signals are used to calculate one or more parameters reflective of the presence or absence of airborne ice crystals and/or water droplets.

Abstract: A device for optically detecting and distinguishing airborne liquid water droplets and ice crystals includes an illumination portion and a detection portion. The illumination portion outputs a circularly polarized illuminating beam. The detection portion receives circularly polarized backscattered light from moisture in the cloud, in response to the illuminating beam. The circularly polarized backscattered light is passed through a circular polarizer to convert it into linearly polarized backscattered light, which is split into two components. Each of the two components is optionally subject to further linear polarization to filter out any leakage-type orthogonal polarization. The two components are then optically detected and the resulting detection signals are used to calculate one or more parameters reflective of the presence or absence of airborne ice crystals and/or water droplets.

Abstract: A method of detecting contaminants on a window surface of a viewing system comprises the steps of: reflecting light off of contaminants on the window surface; capturing the reflected light in an image; converting the image into image data; and processing the image data to detect the contaminants on the window surface. Also, apparatus for detecting contaminants on an external surface of a window of a viewing system comprises: at least one light source for reflecting light from contaminants on the external surface; an imager for capturing an image of the reflected light and converting the image into image data; and a processor for processing the image data to detect the contaminants on the external surface.

Abstract: A method of detecting a combustion chemical in a region and setting an alarm based on concentration levels of the combustion chemical comprises the steps of: monitoring the region for a combustion chemical with a sensor having a measurable parameter which changes in value proportional to concentration levels of the monitored combustion chemical, the measurable parameter being ambient temperature dependent; generating an ambient temperature measurement of the sensor; reading the measurable parameter and ambient temperature measurement; processing the measurable parameter and ambient temperature measurement readings to generate a temperature compensated concentration level of the monitored combustion chemical; and setting an alarm based on the generated temperature compensated concentration level. A fire detector unit for implementing the foregoing described method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of detecting a combustion chemical in a region and setting an alarm based on concentration levels of the combustion chemical comprises the steps of: monitoring the region for a combustion chemical with a sensor having a measurable parameter which changes in value proportional to concentration levels of the monitored combustion chemical, the measurable parameter being ambient temperature dependent; generating an ambient temperature measurement of the sensor; reading the measurable parameter and ambient temperature measurement; processing the measurable parameter and ambient temperature measurement readings to generate a temperature compensated concentration level of the monitored combustion chemical; and setting an alarm based on the generated temperature compensated concentration level. A fire detector unit for implementing the foregoing described method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A light input energizes an optical transmitter providing a light output to a waveguide indicating a process variable. The transmitter has a process variable sensor generating a sensor output. An electrical circuit receives the sensor output and generates an electrical transmitter output indicating the process variable adjusted by a changeable parameter stored in the electrical circuit. The electrical circuit has an input energizing the circuit. An LED converts the electrical transmitter output to the light output. A gallium arsenide photodiode converts a first portion of received light into electrical energy provided to the energization input and converts a second portion of the received light into an electrical output controlling the stored parameter.