Abstract: Disclosed is an electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising: a mass resiliently connected to a body by a biasing device and adapted to oscillate about an equilibrium point relative to the body with an oscillation amplitude, a transducer configured to convert oscillations of the mass about the equilibrium point relative to the body into electrical energy, and a resilient device disposed between the biasing device and one of the mass and the body, wherein the resilient device is configured to be deformed between the biasing device and the one of the mass and the body only when the oscillation amplitude exceeds a predetermined non-zero threshold amplitude. The resilient device may comprise one of a helical spring, an O-ring and a spring washer, such as a Belleville washer, a curved disc spring, a wave washer, and a split washer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising: a mass resiliently connected to a body by a biasing device and adapted to oscillate about an equilibrium point relative to the body with an oscillation amplitude, a transducer configured to convert oscillations of the mass about the equilibrium point relative to the body into electrical energy, and a resilient device disposed between the biasing device and one of the mass and the body, wherein the resilient device is configured to be deformed between the biasing device and the one of the mass and the body only when the oscillation amplitude exceeds a predetermined non-zero threshold amplitude. The resilient device may comprise one of a helical spring, an O-ring and a spring washer, such as a Belleville washer, a curved disc spring, a wave washer, and a split washer.

Abstract: A technique comprising: detecting at a first radio node a first signal indicating the number of hops at which a second radio node that transmitted the first signal first detected a second, earlier signal; and deciding whether to transmit said first signal onwards from said first radio node based at least partly on (i) a direction indicator in said first signal, (ii) a comparison of the respective numbers of hops at which said first and second radio nodes first detected said earlier second signal, and (iii) the result of a search at said first radio node for onwards transmission of said first signal by another radio node in the direction indicated by said hop-count number direction indicator.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising: a mass resiliently connected to a body by a biasing device and adapted to oscillate about an equilibrium point relative to the body with an oscillation amplitude, a transducer configured to convert oscillations of the mass about the equilibrium point relative to the body into electrical energy, and a resilient device disposed between the biasing device and one of the mass and the body, wherein the resilient device is configured to be deformed between the biasing device and the one of the mass and the body only when the oscillation amplitude exceeds a predetermined non-zero threshold amplitude. The resilient device may comprise one of a helical spring, an O-ring and a spring washer, such as a Belleville washer, a curved disc spring, a wave washer, and a split washer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising: a mass resiliently connected to a body by a biasing device and adapted to oscillate about an equilibrium point relative to the body with an oscillation amplitude, a transducer configured to convert oscillations of the mass about the equilibrium point relative to the body into electrical energy, and a resilient device disposed between the biasing device and one of the mass and the body, wherein the resilient device is configured to be deformed between the biasing device and the one of the mass and the body only when the oscillation amplitude exceeds a predetermined non-zero threshold amplitude. The resilient device may comprise one of a helical spring, an O-ring and a spring washer, such as a Belleville washer, a curved disc spring, a wave washer, and a split washer.

Abstract: A technique comprising: detecting at a first radio node a first signal indicating the number of hops at which a second radio node that transmitted the first signal first detected a second, earlier signal; and deciding whether to transmit said first signal onwards from said first radio node based at least partly on (i) a direction indicator in said first signal, (ii) a comparison of the respective numbers of hops at which said first and second radio nodes first detected said earlier second signal, and (iii) the result of a search at said first radio node for onwards transmission of said first signal by another radio node in the direction indicated by said hop-count number direction indicator.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising: a mass resiliently connected to a body by a biasing device and adapted to oscillate about an equilibrium point relative to the body with an oscillation amplitude, a transducer configured to convert oscillations of the mass about the equilibrium point relative to the body into electrical energy, and a resilient device disposed between the biasing device and one of the mass and the body, wherein the resilient device is configured to be deformed between the biasing device and the one of the mass and the body only when the oscillation amplitude exceeds a predetermined non-zero threshold amplitude. The resilient device may comprise one of a helical spring, an O-ring and a spring washer, such as a Belleville washer, a curved disc spring, a wave washer, and a split washer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electromechanical generator for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical energy, the electromechanical generator comprising: a mass resiliently connected to a body by a biasing device and adapted to oscillate about an equilibrium point relative to the body with an oscillation amplitude, a transducer configured to convert oscillations of the mass about the equilibrium point relative to the body into electrical energy, and a resilient device disposed between the biasing device and one of the mass and the body, wherein the resilient device is configured to be deformed between the biasing device and the one of the mass and the body only when the oscillation amplitude exceeds a predetermined non-zero threshold amplitude. The resilient device may comprise one of a helical spring, an O-ring and a spring washer, such as a Belleville washer, a curved disc spring, a wave washer, and a split washer.

Abstract: There is provided a sample preparation device and method for preparing a sample of liquid for detection of impurities. First (40) and second (38) electrodes are provided, located for immersion in a liquid under test. A semipermeable membrane (42) is positioned to protect the first electrode (40) from a body of liquid under test (32). The semipermeable membrane allows the liquid under test to pass therethrough to reach the first electrode, while preventing solids carried in the liquid from reaching the first electrode, the first electrode being positioned to affect the liquid under test in the vicinity of a sensor (36). Particular embodiments feature a hydrophilic membrane to protect the electrodes from suspended solids in the sample, a thin electrode assembly to achieve a faster response and the addition of a heater for temperature control to achieve consistent detection conditions and improved anti-fouling properties.

Abstract: An interdigitated microelectrode (2) comprising a substrate (4), a first layer (6) of a first metal on the substrate (4), and a second layer (8) of a second metal on the substrate (4), the first layer (6) comprising a plurality of line microelectrodes (10) which are connected at a first end (12) and are not connected at a second end (14), the second layer (8) comprising a plurality of line microelectrodes (16) which are connected at a first end (18) and are not connected at a second end (20), the line microelectrodes (10) of the first layer (6) and the line microelectrodes (16) of the second layer (8) being such that they extend into each other but do not touch each other thereby to form an interdigititated microelectrode array (22), and the first metal being different from the second metal. A process for producing the interdigitated microelectrode (2) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A probe or sonde (1) comprising a plurality of sensors (3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) for sensing different parameters, at least one sensor being mounted on or at one end of the probe or sonde (1), and at least one sensor being mounted on or at the, or one, side of the probe or sonde (1). The probe or sonde further comprises a centrally positioned stirrer (7) and in constructed from plastics discs bonded together or separated by gaskets. Sensors are used for measuring different water quality parameters, flow and temperature.

Abstract: There is provided a sample preparation device and method for preparing a sample of liquid for detection of impurities. First (40) and second (38) electrodes are provided, located for immersion in a liquid under test. A semipermeable membrane (42) is positioned to protect the first electrode (40) from a body of liquid under test (32). The semipermeable membrane allows the liquid under test to pass therethrough to reach the first electrode, while preventing solids carried in the liquid from reaching the first electrode, the first electrode being positioned to affect the liquid under test in the vicinity of a sensor (36). Particular embodiments feature a hydrophilic membrane to protect the electrodes from suspended solids in the sample, a thin electrode assembly to achieve a faster response and the addition of a heater for temperature control to achieve consistent detection conditions and improved anti-fouling properties.

Abstract: There is provided a sample preparation device and method for preparing a sample of liquid for detection of impurities. First (40) and second (38) electrodes are provided, located for immersion in a liquid under test. A semipermeable membrane (42) is positioned to protect the first electrode (40) from a body of liquid under test (32). The semipermeable membrane allows the liquid under test to pass therethrough to reach the first electrode, while preventing solids carried in the liquid from reaching the first electrode, the first electrode being positioned to affect the liquid under test in the vicinity of a sensor (36). Particular embodiments feature a hydrophilic membrane to protect the electrodes from suspended solids in the sample, a thin electrode assembly to achieve a faster response and the addition of a heater for temperature control to achieve consistent detection conditions and improved anti-fouling properties.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing at least one parameter in a liquid including a sensor means for sensing the parameter, a rotation means and a drive generator means for driving the rotation means as well as to generate electricity passed to an electricity storage means. In addition to a control means for operating the rotation means which also operates in a flow of the liquid and in which the rotation means maintains the flow of liquid at or above a predetermined value.

Abstract: Apparatus (2) for monitoring chlorine in water (4), which apparatus (2) comprises a flow cell (6), the flow cell (6) containing a chlorine sensor (62) and an automatic calibration system, and the automatic calibration system being such that it comprises a small pair of in-line electrodes (50) for generating low concentrations of free chlorine, and injection means (44) for injecting in use of the apparatus a salt solution (64) of known concentration.

Abstract: Apparatus (2) for driving an amperometric electrochemical sensor, which apparatus (2) comprises a microelectrode (30), drive means (36) for the microelectrode, and signal processing means (3), the apparatus (2) being such that the drive means (36) supplies successive pulsed chronoamperometric different conditions to the microelectrode (30), the microelectrode (30) produces a sequence of different voltages consequent upon receiving the chronoamperometric different conditions and correlates the received chronoamperometric different conditions with their respective measurement circuits, and the signal processing means (3) interrogates only the current corresponding to a particular voltage in the sequence of different voltages and thereby produces a single sensor output corresponding to each separate voltage in the sequence of different voltages whereby interrogation of the amperometric electrochemical sensor is facilitated.

Abstract: Apparatus (2) for sensing parameters, which apparatus (2) comprises a housing (4), a plurality of sockets (6) in the housing (4), a sensor (8) in each of the sockets (6), first electrical contacts (10) on the sensor (8), and second electrical contacts (12) in each socket (6) at an end of the socket (6) remote from the sensor (8), and the apparatus (2) being such that: (i) the sensors (8) are for sensing different parameters; (ii) the sockets (6) are such that when they contain their sensors (8) then the sockets (6) are sealed from each other whereby a liquid caused to be present in a socket (6) consequent upon an operator error is unable to pass to the other sockets (6); (iii) the second electrical contacts (12) define the type of sensor (8) that is appropriate for each socket (6); and (iv) the sensors (8) each comprise a flat sensor part (14), a transversely extending mounting part (16), and a body part (18), the transversely extending mounting part (16) being located in a bore in the body part (18), and the

Abstract: Apparatus (2) for driving an amperometric electrochemical sensor, which apparatus (2) comprises a microelectrode (30), drive means (36) for the microelectrode, and signal processing means (3), the apparatus (2) being such that the drive means (36) supplies successive pulsed chronoamperometric different conditions to the microelectrode (30), the microelectrode (30) produces a sequence of different voltages consequent upon receiving the chronoamperometric different conditions and correlates the received chronoamperometric different conditions with their respective measurement circuits, and the signal processing means (3) interrogates only the current corresponding to a particular voltage in the sequence of different voltages and thereby produces a single sensor output corresponding to each separate voltage in the sequence of different voltages whereby interrogation of the amperometric electrochemical sensor is facilitated.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the turbidity of water, which apparatus comprises: (i) pressure reducer and flow controller means; (ii) calibration solution injection means (2); (iii) a variable dielectrophoresis drive particle filter (3), set to retain micro-organisms, and able to be turned on and off at a set frequency, periodically releasing any micro-organisms that have been retained; (iv) monitor means (4) which monitors the output of the filter (3) by optical particle detection; and (v) phase sensitive detection signal processing means for correlating an obtained turbidity signal with the state of the filter (3) and flow rate of the water through the apparatus.

Abstract: A probe or sonde (1) comprising a plurality of sensors (3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) for sensing different parameters, at least one sensor being mounted on or at one end of the probe or sonde (1), and at least one sensor being mounted on or at the, or one, side of the probe or sonde (1). The probe or sonde further comprises a centrally positioned stirrer (7) and in constructed from plastics discs bonded together or separated by gaskets. Sensors are used for measuring different water quality parameters, flow and temperature.