Abstract: An apparatus is provided for effecting an optical barrier and includes a light source emitting a beam. The apparatus also includes a moveable mirror and an actuator to move the mirror to reflect the beam into a plurality of directions or locations. In some embodiments, the apparatus also includes a processor and a memory chip including a sequence of instructions. The memory chip and the sequence of instructions causes the processor to receive data from a sensor system that indicates a location of a pest and operate the actuator to move the mirror to direct the beam to sweep through a range of directions that include the location of the pest. A light fixture is also provided, that includes the apparatus.

Abstract: Techniques for depleting target organisms in water include a waterproof transducer configured for ensonifying a container of water with low intensity sound at one or more ultrasound frequencies for a duration sufficient to prevent maturation of at least 90% of the target organism. In some cases the target organism is mosquito larvae. For example, a portable system for depleting target organisms in water includes a control system and a plurality of waterproof transducers. The system is configured for ensonifying a surface layer of water in an acoustic frequency range from about 40 kilohertz to about 100 kilohertz and in a power concentration range from about 35 milliwatts per milliliter to 100 milliwatts per milliliter for a duration in a range from about 1 to about 100 seconds.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for effecting an optical barrier and includes a light source emitting a beam. The apparatus also includes a moveable mirror and an actuator to move the mirror to reflect the beam into a plurality of directions or locations. In some embodiments, the apparatus also includes a processor and a memory chip including a sequence of instructions. The memory chip and the sequence of instructions causes the processor to receive data from a sensor system that indicates a location of a pest and operate the actuator to move the mirror to direct the beam to sweep through a range of directions that include the location of the pest. A light fixture is also provided, that includes the apparatus.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying and tracking pests such as disease vectors include a strobe light source; a digital camera; at least one processor; and at least one memory including one or more sequences of instructions. The at least one memory and the one or more sequences of instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause an apparatus to identify a pest type in a monitored region based on an image captured by the digital camera when the monitored region is illuminated by the strobe light source. The apparatus is also caused to operate a device based on the pest identified.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting and tracking pests such as disease vectors include a directional acoustic sensor or array such as a phased array of microphones or a directional microphone; at least one processor; and at least one memory including one or more sequences of instructions. The memory and instructions and processor cause an apparatus to track an individual or swarm of pests based on direction and acoustic signatures within a beam of the directional acoustic sensor or array, in which the acoustic signature uniquely identifies a type of pest. In some embodiments, remedial apparatus is directed to impose remedial action against the individual or swarm of pests. In some embodiments the remedial apparatus includes an optical barrier.

Abstract: Techniques for depleting target organisms in water include a waterproof transducer configured for ensonifying a container of water with low intensity sound at one or more ultrasound frequencies for a duration sufficient to prevent maturation of at least 90% of the target organism. In some cases the target organism is mosquito larvae. For example, a portable system for depleting target organisms in water includes a control system and a plurality of waterproof transducers. The system is configured for ensonifying a surface layer of water in an acoustic frequency range from about 40 kilohertz to about 100 kilohertz and in a power concentration range from about 35 milliwatts per milliliter to 100 milliwatts per milliliter for a duration in a range from about 1 to about 100 seconds.

Abstract: Techniques for depleting target organisms in water include a waterproof transducer configured for ensonifying a container of water with low intensity sound at one or more ultrasound frequencies for a duration sufficient to prevent maturation of at least 90% of the target organism. In some cases the target organism is mosquito larvae. For example, a portable system for depleting target organisms in water includes a control system and a plurality of waterproof transducers. The system is configured for ensonifying a surface layer of water in an acoustic frequency range from about 40 kilohertz to about 100 kilohertz and in a power concentration range from about 35 milliwatts per milliliter to 100 milliwatts per milliliter for a duration in a range from about 1 to about 100 seconds.

Abstract: A system includes an electrical device comprising a power supply and circuitry and a supplemental device integrated into the electrical device. The supplemental device includes a tracker chip to receive current location data of the electrical device. The supplemental device also includes a switch with one side connected to the power supply and another side connected to the circuitry of the electrical device. The supplemental device also includes a processor and a memory chip including a stored predetermined location of the electrical device. The predetermined location is input in an encrypted format into a secure encoding chip. The processor is configured to receive the current location data from the tracker chip, compare the current location data with the predetermination location, and turn off the switch to disconnect the power supply from the circuitry if the current location data does not correspond to the predetermined location.

Abstract: Encoding information in a material using a material tracing system includes storing information to be encoded in the material, generating a number based on the information, determining an amount of at least one tracer to be incorporated into the material corresponding to the number, and incorporating the determined amount of the at least one tracer into the material. Decoding information encoded in the material includes measuring an amount of the at least one tracer, in some embodiments after tracer activation, determining a number corresponding to the measured at least one tracer, and decoding the number to obtain information associated with the material. A material tracing system is also provided.

Abstract: A device generates a light barrier that can be used for different purposes. The barrier consists of one or more surfaces (or volume) exhibiting an abrupt change in light intensity. In some embodiments the change in intensity affects animals, including insects, approaching or crossing it. In some embodiments, the light generates thermal or density variations in the air that cause air movements that perturb particles, such as pollen, or other pests to human activity. In some embodiments, an approach includes an optical barrier generator configured to emit light of an optical waveform above a threshold power in a portion of space positioned relative to the generator. The optical waveform above the threshold power is effective at perturbing a pest to human activity.

Abstract: Techniques for depleting target organisms in water include a waterproof transducer configured for ensonifying a container of water with low intensity sound at one or more ultrasound frequencies for a duration sufficient to prevent maturation of at least 90% of the target organism. In some cases the target organism is mosquito larvae. For example, a portable system for depleting target organisms in water includes a control system and a plurality of waterproof transducers. The system is configured for ensonifying a surface layer of water in an acoustic frequency range from about 40 kilohertz to about 100 kilohertz and in a power concentration range from about 35 milliwatts per milliliter to 100 milliwatts per milliliter for a duration in a range from about 1 to about 100 seconds.

Abstract: Encoding information in a material using a material tracing system includes storing information to be encoded in the material, generating a number based on the information, determining an amount of at least one tracer to be incorporated into the material corresponding to the number, and incorporating the determined amount of the at least one tracer into the material. Decoding information encoded in the material includes measuring an amount of the at least one tracer, in some embodiments after tracer activation, determining a number corresponding to the measured at least one tracer, and decoding the number to obtain information associated with the material. A material tracing system is also provided.

Abstract: A device generates a light barrier that can be used for different purposes. The barrier consists of one or more surfaces (or volume) exhibiting an abrupt change in light intensity. In some embodiments the change in intensity affects animals, including insects, approaching or crossing it. In some embodiments, the light generates thermal or density variations in the air that cause air movements that perturb particles, such as pollen, or other pests to human activity. In some embodiments, an approach includes an optical barrier generator configured to emit light of an optical waveform above a threshold power in a portion of space positioned relative to the generator. The optical waveform above the threshold power is effective at perturbing a pest to human activity.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for long-term, non-invasive measuring of fetal heart rate. The method utilizes the characteristic curves of first and second heart sound received by the preferred electroacoustical converter. The identification and distinction of first and second sounds, furthermore their time relation used for heartbeat identification highly increase the reliability of fetal heart rate determination. The distinction of first and second sound is based on the differences in frequency spectrums measured in a relatively short time window and by the estimation of the power peaks measured on two test frequencies chosen on the two ends of the frequency range of fetal heart sound. The method is implemented in an integrated apparatus to achieve low power consumption for battery-operated long-term measurements. Digital filtering and selective power estimation is applied for continuous computation of power time function on the two test frequencies.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for effective home monitoring of uterine contractions of a pregnant woman, in order to provide early warning signs of possible premature birth. Using a transducer of known type, uterine contractions are monitored continuously over a period of time. An electrical signal is generated, which is digitized for processing with simple IC chips. Importantly, only those contractions whose intensity exceeds a threshold value for a duration exceeding a threshold period are stored for future processing and analysis. Analysis of these over-threshold values provides a valuable basis on which to judge the likelihood of premature birth. Limiting the analysis only to such over-threshold values enables the system and equipment to be of a highly simplified, economical construction, suitable for widespread home use yet capable of monitoring over an extended duration.