Abstract: A lidar system with a pulsed laser diode configured to produce an optical seed pulse of light at an operating wavelength between approximately 1400 nm and approximately 1600 nm. The lidar system may also include an optical amplifier configured to amplify the optical seed pulse to produce an eye-safe output optical pulse that is emitted into a field of view. The optical amplifier may produce an amount of amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) associated with the output optical pulse. The lidar system may include an optical filter configured to filter the output optical pulse to reduce the associated ASE. The lidar system may also include a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the output optical pulse reflected or scattered from the field of view.

Abstract: A lidar system may have a light source configured to emit a pulse of light and a scanner that scans a field of view of the light source in a forward-scanning direction across a plurality of pixels located downrange from the lidar system. The scanner can direct the pulse of light toward the second pixel and scan a field of view of a first detector. The first-detector field of view can be offset from the light-source field of view in a direction opposite the forward-scanning direction. When the pulse is emitted, the first-detector field of view can at least partially overlap the first pixel and the light-source field of view can at least partially overlap the second pixel. The first detector can be configured to detect a portion of the pulse of light scattered by a target located at least partially within the second pixel.

Abstract: A lidar system with a light source to emit a pulse of light into a field of view and a receiver to detect a return pulse of light which is reflected or scattered by a target in the field of view. The receiver may include an avalanche photodiode to generate an electrical-current pulse corresponding to the return pulse and a transimpedance amplifier to produce a voltage pulse that corresponds to the electrical-current pulse. A voltage amplifier may amplify the voltage pulse and a comparator may produce an edge signal when the amplified voltage pulse exceeds a threshold. A time-to-digital converter may determine a time interval based on an emission time of the pulse of light and based on the edge signal. A processor may determine a distance to the target using the time interval.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a Q-switched laser configured to emit pulses of light, where the Q-switched laser includes a gain medium and a Q-switch. The lidar system further includes a scanner configured to scan the emitted pulses of light across a field of regard and a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the scanned pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The lidar system also includes a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target based at least in part on a round-trip time of flight for an emitted pulse of light to travel from the lidar system to the target and back to the lidar system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a lidar system includes a pump laser configured to produce pulses of light at a pump wavelength. The lidar system further includes an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) with an OPO medium configured to: receive the pump pulses from the pump laser; convert at least part of the received pump pulses into pulses of light at a signal wavelength and pulses of light at an idler wavelength; and emit at least a portion of the signal pulses. The lidar system also includes a scanner configured to scan the emitted pulses of light across a field of regard and a receiver configured to detect at least a portion of the scanned pulses of light scattered by a target located a distance from the lidar system. The lidar system also includes a processor configured to determine the distance from the lidar system to the target.

Abstract: A lidar system with a light source to emit a pulse of light into a field of view and a receiver to detect a return pulse of light which is reflected or scattered by a target in the field of view. The receiver may include an avalanche photodiode to generate an electrical-current pulse corresponding to the return pulse and a transimpedance amplifier to produce a voltage pulse that corresponds to the electrical-current pulse. A voltage amplifier may amplify the voltage pulse and a comparator may produce an edge signal when the amplified voltage pulse exceeds a threshold. A time-to-digital converter may determine a time interval based on an emission time of the pulse of light and based on the edge signal. A processor may determine a distance to the target using the time interval.

Abstract: A thin film photonic structure that enables segregation of the effective absorption of the thin film and its intrinsic absorption while substantially eliminating bandwidth restrictions. In the form of an optical resonator, the structure includes two, multi-layer, aperiodic dielectric mirrors and a lossy, dielectric thin film and characterized by an intrinsic optical absorption over at least a one octave bandwidth. The two, multi-layer, aperiodic dielectric mirrors are characterized by a reflectivity amplitude that increases in-step with increasing wavelength over the at least one octave bandwidth. Upon a single incoherent beam of optical radiation having a spectrum over the at least one octave bandwidth incident on one side of the resonator structure, the lossy, dielectric thin film is characterized by an effective optical absorption over the at least one octave bandwidth that is greater than the intrinsic optical absorption over the at least one octave bandwidth.

Abstract: A thin film photonic structure that enables segregation of the effective absorption of the thin film and its intrinsic absorption while substantially eliminating bandwidth restrictions. In the form of an optical resonator, the structure includes two, multi-layer, aperiodic dielectric mirrors and a lossy, dielectric thin film and characterized by an intrinsic optical absorption over at least a one octave bandwidth. The two, multi-layer, aperiodic dielectric mirrors are characterized by a reflectivity amplitude that increases in-step with increasing wavelength over the at least one octave bandwidth. Upon a single incoherent beam of optical radiation having a spectrum over the at least one octave bandwidth incident on one side of the resonator structure, the lossy, dielectric thin film is characterized by an effective optical absorption over the at least one octave bandwidth that is greater than the intrinsic optical absorption over the at least one octave bandwidth.

Abstract: A lidar system can include a light source that emits a pulse of light and a splitter that splits the pulse of light into two or more pulses of angularly separated light. The lidar system can also include a scanner configured to scan pulses of light along a scanning direction across a plurality of pixels located downrange from the lidar system. The lidar system can also include a detector array with a first detector and a second detector. The first and second detectors can be separated by a detector-separation distance along a direction corresponding to the scanning direction of the light pulses. The first detector can be configured to detect scattered light from the first pulse of light and the second detector can be configured to detect scattered light from the second pulse of light.

Abstract: A lidar system may have a light source configured to emit a pulse of light and a scanner that scans a field of view of the light source in a forward-scanning direction across a plurality of pixels located downrange from the lidar system. The scanner can direct the pulse of light toward the second pixel and scan a field of view of a first detector. The first-detector field of view can be offset from the light-source field of view in a direction opposite the forward-scanning direction. When the pulse is emitted, the first-detector field of view can at least partially overlap the first pixel and the light-source field of view can at least partially overlap the second pixel. The first detector can be configured to detect a portion of the pulse of light scattered by a target located at least partially within the second pixel.

Abstract: The disclosed concept relates to hollow core arrester membranes generally and, in particular, to membranes that include a pultruded tube composed of fibers and resin, and one or more wrap layers composed of fibers and resin in the form of a mat or fabric. The one or more wrap layers are applied to the pultruded tube to form a wrapped, pultruded tube, which is over molded with a polymer enclosure.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring an electrical flat wire. An appropriate safety device is utilized to monitor the electrical flat wire. The safety device includes a line side input configured to connect a line side power source and receive an electrical power signal from the line side power source. Additionally, the safety device includes a flat wire connection configured to connect to an electrical flat wire. The safety device further includes at least one relay configured to control the communication of the electrical power signal onto the electrical flat wire. The safety device also includes a control unit configured to test the electrical flat wire for at least one of miswires, wire faults, or abnormal conditions and, based at least in part on the results of the testing, to control the actuation of the at least one relay.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring an electrical wire. A safety device utilized to monitor the wire may include at least one current sensing device, at least one voltage sensing device, and at least one processing component. The current sensing device measures a current on at least one conductor of the wire. The voltage sensing device measures a voltage associated with the safety device. The at least one processing component receives the measurements and identifies, based upon the current measurement, an overcurrent event. The processing component then compares the voltage measurement to a stored voltage value and determines, based upon the comparison, that a difference between the voltage measurement and the stored voltage value satisfies a threshold condition. The processing component directs, based upon the determination, at least one relay to be opened to discontinue provision of an electrical power signal onto the electrical wire.

Abstract: An electrical wire includes a plurality of first conductors. The plurality of first conductors includes at least one electrifiable conductor for delivering electrical power and at least one signal conductor for delivering a communications signal. Second and third conductors are respectively formed on opposing sides of the plurality of first conductors, such that each of the plurality of first conductors is at least substantially entrapped by the second and third conductors. A distance between the at least one electrifiable conductor and each of the second and third conductors is no greater than approximately 0.030 inches.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring an electrical flat wire. An appropriate safety device is utilized to monitor the electrical flat wire. The safety device includes a line side input configured to connect a line side power source and receive an electrical power signal from the line side power source. Additionally, the safety device includes a flat wire connection configured to connect to an electrical flat wire. The safety device further includes at least one relay configured to control the communication of the electrical power signal onto the electrical flat wire. The safety device also includes a control unit configured to test the electrical flat wire for at least one of miswires, wire faults, or abnormal conditions and, based at least in part on the results of the testing, to control the actuation of the at least one relay.

Abstract: A flat wire extension cord includes an elongated cord, a first connected attached to a first end of the elongated cord, and a second connected attached to an opposite end of the elongated cord. The elongated cord includes at least one electrifiable conductor for delivering electrical power, first and second insulating layers formed on opposing sides of the at least one electrifiable conductor, and first and second return conductors formed on the first and second insulating layers, respectively, such that said at least one electrifiable conductor is at least substantially entrapped by said first and second return conductors. The first connector is operable to connect the conductors of the elongated cord to a line side input, and the second connector is operable to connect the conductors of the elongated cord to a load.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring an electrical wire. An appropriate safety device is utilized to monitor the electrical wire. The safety device includes a line side input configured to connect a line side power source and receive an electrical power signal from the line side power source. Additionally, the safety device includes a wire connection configured to connect to an electrical wire. The safety device further includes at least one relay or other suitable disconnection component configured to control the communication of the electrical power signal onto the electrical wire. The safety device also includes a control unit configured to test the electrical wire for at least one of miswires, wire faults, or abnormal conditions and, based at least in part on the results of the testing, to control the actuation of the at least one relay.

Abstract: An electrical wire includes a plurality of first conductors. The plurality of first conductors includes at least one electrifiable conductor for delivering electrical power and at least one signal conductor for delivering a communications signal. Second and third conductors are respectively formed on opposing sides of the plurality of first conductors, such that each of the plurality of first conductors is at least substantially entrapped by the second and third conductors. A distance between the at least one electrifiable conductor and each of the second and third conductors is no greater than approximately 0.030 inches.

Abstract: Ferroic materials and methods for diverse applications including nanoscale memory, logic and photovoltaic devices are described. In one aspect, ferroic thin films including insulating domains separated by conducting domain walls are provided, with both the insulating domains and conducting domain walls intrinsic to the ferroic thin films. The walls are on the order of about 2 nm wide, providing virtually two dimensional conducting sheets through the insulating material. Also provided are methods of writing, reading, erasing and manipulating conducting domain walls. According to various embodiments, logic and memory devices having conducting domain walls as nanoscale features are provided. In another aspect, ferroic thin films having photovoltaic activity are provided. According to various embodiments, photovoltaic and optoelectronic devices are provided.

Abstract: An electrical wire includes a first conductor, a second conductor, and a third conductor. The first conductor is formed as an electrifiable conductor for delivering electrical power. The second and third conductors are respectively formed on opposing sides of the first conductor, such that the first conductor is at least substantially entrapped by the second and third conductors. A distance between the first conductor and each of the second and third conductors is no greater than approximately 0.030 inches.