Abstract: Described are sensors and methods of detecting hydrogen gas. The sensor includes a polymer matrix and a dye molecule in an amount sufficient such that exposure of the polymer matrix to hydrogen gas causes a change in a spectroscopic property of the dye molecule wherein the spectroscopic property includes at least one of color, absorbance, or luminescence. The polymer matrix may further include a catalyst, such as a transition metal, sulfonated Wilkinson's catalyst, colloidal Pt, sulfonated iridium cyclooctadiene triphenylphosphine, sulfonated rhodium cyclooctadiene triphenylphosphine, sulfonated ruthenium triphenylphosphine, or combinations thereof. Embodiments of the sensor may further include a gas permeable, water impermeable membrane, an outer covering, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Described are sensors and methods of detecting hydrogen gas. The sensor includes a polymer matrix and a dye molecule in an amount sufficient such that exposure of the polymer matrix to hydrogen gas causes a change in a spectroscopic property of the dye molecule wherein the spectroscopic property includes at least one of color, absorbance, or luminescence. The polymer matrix may further include a catalyst, such as a transition metal, sulfonated Wilkinson's catalyst, colloidal Pt, sulfonated iridium cyclooctadiene triphenylphosphine, sulfonated rhodium cyclooctadiene triphenylphosphine, sulfonated ruthenium triphenylphosphine, or combinations thereof. Embodiments of the sensor may further include a gas permeable, water impermeable membrane, an outer covering, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving efficiency of operation and convenience of access to a fleet of taxis, or other service vehicles, requiring rapid, on-demand dispatch to customer-determined locations. Automatic speech recognition (ASR) and/or radiolocation technology are used to automate the entry of the customer pickup location, and optionally the dropoff location and other relevant information as well. A customer speaks the pickup location into a cellular telephone which then digitizes and transmits it as a data communication to an ASR system. The ASR system decodes the digitized utterance into a pickup location which is passed to a vehicle matching and dispatch system. The vehicle matching and dispatch system matches a taxi and dispatches it to the pickup location. In one embodiment, the identified pickup location is transmitted to the customer's cellular telephone for confirmation or correction, before dispatch of the requested taxi.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving efficiency of operation and convenience of access to a fleet of taxis, or other service vehicles, requiring rapid, on-demand dispatch to customer-determined locations. Automatic speech recognition (ASR) and/or radiolocation technology arc used to automate the entry of the customer pickup location, and optionally the dropoff location and other relevant information as well. A customer speaks the pickup location into a cellular telephone which then digitizes and transmits it as a data communication to an ASR system. The ASR system decodes the digitized utterance into a pickup location which is passed to a vehicle matching and dispatch system. The vehicle matching and dispatch system matches a taxi and dispatches it to the pickup location. In one embodiment, the identified pickup location is transmitted to the customer's cellular telephone for confirmation or correction, before dispatch of the requested taxi.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving efficiency of operation and convenience of access to a fleet of taxis, or other service vehicles, requiring rapid, on-demand dispatch to customer-determined locations. Automatic speech recognition (ASR) and/or radiolocation technology are used to automate the entry of the customer pickup location, and optionally the dropoff location and other relevant information as well. A customer speaks the pickup location into a cellular telephone which then digitizes and transmits it as a data communication to an ASR system. The ASR system decodes the digitized utterance into a pickup location which is passed to a vehicle matching and dispatch system. The vehicle matching and dispatch system matches a taxi and dispatches it to the pickup location. In one embodiment, the identified pickup location is transmitted to the customer's cellular telephone for confirmation or correction, before dispatch of the requested taxi.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for improving efficiency of operation and convenience of access to a fleet of taxis, or other service vehicles, requiring rapid, on-demand dispatch to customer-determined locations. Automatic speech recognition (ASR) and/or radiolocation technology are used to automate the entry of the customer pickup location, and optionally the dropoff location and other relevant information as well. A customer speaks the pickup location into a cellular telephone which then digitizes and transmits it as a data communication to an ASR system. The ASR system decodes the digitized utterance into a pickup location which is passed to a vehicle matching and dispatch system. The vehicle matching and dispatch system matches a taxi and dispatches it to the pickup location. In one embodiment, the identified pickup location is transmitted to the customer's cellular telephone for confirmation or correction, before dispatch of the requested taxi.

Abstract: A heat sealer having a heated platen, a cylinder for reciprocating the platen, a die positioned to be engaged by the platen and a shuttle supporting the die to move the die from a platen-engaging position to a non-engaging position, and a control for controlling the temperature of the platen and the force applied to the platen against the die by the cylinder. The invention also includes a temperature sensor for sensing the surface temperature of the platen and a load sensor for sensing the force applied by the platen to the die. In one embodiment, the temperature sensor is an infrared temperature sensor that reads the surface temperature of the platen and the load sensor is a load cell positioned beneath the die and supporting the die so that the load sensors can measure the direct force applied by the platen against the die. Also, in one embodiment, the infrared sensor is positioned beneath the die so that it can read the platen temperature when the die is displaced to the non-engaging position.