Abstract: An inspection system is provided to examine internal structures of a target material. This inspection system includes a generation laser, an ultrasonic detection system, a thermal imaging system, and a processor/control module. The generation laser produces a pulsed laser beam that is operable to induce ultrasonic displacements and thermal transients at the target material. The ultrasonic detection system detects ultrasonic surface displacements at the target material. The thermal imaging system detects thermal transients at the target material. The processor analyzes both detected ultrasonic displacements and thermal imagery of the target material to yield information about the target material's internal structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transport container which is made of plastic and has side walls which rise up from a bottom part and are reinforced on their outwardly facing surface by vertical and/or horizontal ribs which protrude from the walls and are characterized in that plates made of plastic filled with stiffness-increasing additives are applied to the outer side of at least two opposing side walls.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of carbon nanomaterials as a filtration material pervious to nitrogen dioxide and impervious to ozone. The invention also relates to the use of carbon nanomaterials having a specific surface, measured by the BET method, of 15 to 40 m2/g inclusive and a form factor, equal to the ratio (highest dimension/lowest dimension) of the nanomaterial, of 5 to 250 inclusive, as material for filtering a gas mixture containing nitrogen dioxide and ozone, being pervious to the nitrogen dioxide and impervious to the ozone. The invention can be used in the field of air pollution.

Abstract: A circuit for communicating information in a wireless network includes a filtering circuit in communication with a zero intermediate frequency (ZIF) transceiver circuit. The filtering circuit includes a first mixer in communication with an output of the ZIF transceiver circuit. The filtering circuit includes a first Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filter circuit in communication with an output of the first mixer. The filtering circuit includes a second mixer in communication with an output of the first SAW filter circuit. The filtering circuit includes a third mixer, and a second SAW filter circuit in communication with an output of the third mixer. The filtering circuit includes a fourth mixer in communication with an output of the second SAW filter circuit and an input of the ZIF transceiver circuit. The filtering circuit also includes a local oscillator circuit in communication with the first, second, third and fourth mixers.

Abstract: A laser transmission system.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of subfluorinated carbons as a solid lubricant. Said subfluorinated carbons simultaneously contain fluorinated carbon domains with a (CF)n structure and non-fluorinated graphitic carbon domains, in powder form, as a solid lubricant. The invention can be used in the field of solid lubricants.

Abstract: A pulse detection laser is provided. The pulse detection laser includes a single frequency oscillator, a continuous pre-amplifier, and a pulsed amplifier. The single frequency oscillator generates a seed laser beam and is optically coupled to the continuous preamplifier. The continuous pre-amplifier amplifies the seed laser to produce an intermediate power laser beam. A pulsed amplifier optically coupled to the continuous pre-amplifier receives the intermediate power laser beam and amplifies the intermediate power laser beam to produce a pulse detection laser beam. One task of this pulse detection laser is to illuminate ultrasonic displacements. Light from the laser is scattered, collected, and analyzed with an interferometer to demodulate the ultrasonic displacements caused by the return echoes of the ultrasound at the surface of the part.

Abstract: A load carrier has a rectangular bottom part and feet disposed at least in the corner regions of the bottom part. A groove for accommodating a load-securing belt is provided above the feet, encircling the bottom part. The front edge of each corner foot projects beyond the related bottom corner edge, and a nub-like elevation is provided on this projecting front edge.

Abstract: A circuit for communicating information in a wireless network includes a filtering circuit in communication with a zero intermediate frequency (ZIF) transceiver circuit. The filtering circuit includes a first mixer in communication with an output of the ZIF transceiver circuit. The filtering circuit includes a first Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) filter circuit in communication with an output of the first mixer. The filtering circuit includes a second mixer in communication with an output of the first SAW filter circuit. The filtering circuit includes a third mixer, and a second SAW filter circuit in communication with an output of the third mixer. The filtering circuit includes a fourth mixer in communication with an output of the second SAW filter circuit and an input of the ZIF transceiver circuit. The filtering circuit also includes a local oscillator circuit in communication with the first, second, third and fourth mixers.

Abstract: A method of ultrasonic testing comprising conditioning a radiation wave from a laser source by efficiently converting the radiation wave's wavelength to a mid-IR wavelength for enhanced ultrasonic testing of a composite. The method includes passing the radiation wave through a first optical frequency converter where the radiation wave is converted into a signal wave and an idler wave, where the idler wave is at a mid-IR wavelength. The method further includes directing the signal and idler waves to a second optical frequency converter where the signal wave wavelength is converted to a mid-IR wavelength which combines with the idler wave to form a generation wave. The generation wave is directed at a composite surface to be tested.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a laser system and method for the optical generation of ultrasound at a remote target. This involves generating a pump laser beam with a diode-pumped fiber laser. The diode pumped fiber laser is fiber-coupled with an optical fiber, either passive or diode pumped, to a generation laser head. The generation laser head generates a generation laser beam from the pump laser beam and directs the generation laser beam to the surface of the remote target. The interaction between generation laser beam and the surface of the remote target results in ultrasonic displacements at the remote target. These ultrasonic displacements may be sampled in order to assess and inspect the remote target.

Abstract: A system and method that replaces safety requirements of a laser detection system by shifting the wavelength of a detection laser. An optical wavelength converter that shifts the optical wavelength of a detection laser from a first wavelength within the Infrared “A” portion of the spectrum to a more eye-safe wavelength. The detection laser is directed to the surface of a remote target. Ultrasonic displacements at the surface scatter the filtered detection laser. Collection optics then gather phase modulated light scattered by the surface and direct the phase modulated light to an optical processor that produces a signal representative of the ultrasonic displacements. Signal processors then determine the internal structure of the remote target based on the signal.

Abstract: An ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation (NDE) system operable to inspect target materials is provided. This ultrasonic NDE system includes an articulated robot, an ultrasound inspection head, a processing module, and a control module. The ultrasound inspection head couples to or mounts on the articulated robot. The ultrasound inspection head is operable to deliver a generation laser beam, a detection laser beam, and collect phase modulated light scattered by the target materials. The processing module processes the phase modulated light and produces information about the internal structure of the target materials. The control module directs the articulated robot to position the ultrasound inspection head according to a pre-determined scan plan.

Abstract: A heavy load support made of plastic includes at least a rectangular bottom part with a leg part into which the fork of a forklift engages and which is provided with props located at least in the four corner areas of the bottom part. Metallic U-shaped profiled rails that are open towards the outside are provided between the props along the bottom edge of the load support. The props can be removably fixed to the bottom face of the bottom part of the load support and are provided with a support area for the corner areas of the bottom part as well as an edge which rises vertically from the support area and encloses the edges of the load support at a right angle, pegs being molded onto the free final leg surfaces of the edge to accommodate and fix the U-shaped profiled strips.

Abstract: A laser transmission system is used for inspecting workpieces. The system has a source of laser beams that is coupled to a first lens assembly. A first hollow core waveguide is operably coupled to the first lens assembly. An end of an optical fiber coupled to the first hollow core waveguide. A second hollow core waveguide is coupled to the other end of the optical fiber. A second lens assembly operably coupled to the second hollow core waveguide. The length of the hollow core waveguides range from about 5 to 100 times the focal lengths of the lens assemblies. A motion control system is operably coupled to the second hollow core waveguide and the second lens assembly for controllably displacing the second hollow core waveguide and the second lens assembly with respect to a workpiece.

Abstract: A nest and stack container system is provided. The system comprises a plurality of containers in various sizes, allowing the stacking of smaller sized containers on a larger sized container. Alternatively, the large container may be stacked on at least two adjacently-arranged small containers. The inventive nest and stack containers allow flexible handling of various sizes of storage containers. Individual containers can be stacked and nested among each other, and in combination, stacks of containers can be formed in any desired sequence of large and small containers, with individual containers each being placed in a slip-proof manner on top of another container.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting ultrasonic surface displacements at a remote target are disclosed, one embodiment of the system comprising: a first laser to generate a first laser beam. The first laser beam produces ultrasonic surface displacements on a surface of the remote target. A second laser generates a second laser beam operable to detect the ultrasonic surface displacements on the surface of the remote target and to provide a reference beam to an interferometer. The second laser beam is split, at a beam-splitter, into a pump beam and a probe beam. The pump beam is amplified by a first amplifier and the probe beam is amplified by a second amplifier. The pump beam is then provided to the interferometer as a reference beam and the probe beam is directed to the target to detect the ultrasonic surface displacements. The first and second amplifiers can be controlled independently of one another to control their respective laser beam's power.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a wave characteristic adjusting device used to compensate for a wave characteristic distortion caused by the scanning motion of a probe beam of a two-wave mixing interferometer. The invention is also directed to an apparatus and method for using the wave characteristic adjusting device in a rapid scanning laser ultrasound testing device. In a rapid scanning laser ultrasound testing device, a laser pulse is directed at periodic points along a path across the surface of a manufactured object. The laser pulse initiates an ultrasonic signal associated with the manufactured object. An interferometer may be used to measure the initiated ultrasonic signal. The interferometer scans a probe beam along a path similar to the sonic initiating laser. A pulse of the probe beam is directed at the manufactured object in the vicinity of the initiating laser pulse while continuously scanning. As a result, the probe beam pulse may exhibit a Doppler shift.

Abstract: An interferometer includes a cavity including a pair of mirrors defining a cavity length. An input beam and a counter-propagating reference beam are directed into the cavity. The interferometer generates a feedback control signal and an ultrasound signal for optimal performance and measurement of a target, respectively.

Abstract: A laser ultrasonic measurement system includes a first and a second laser source configured to generate a first and a second laser beam, respectively. A movable mechanical link is arranged to transmit the first laser beam. The movable mechanical link is formed by a plurality of rigid sections interconnected by rotating joints. A robot is configured to support and control the movement of at least a section of the mechanical link to transmit the first laser beam to an object. An optical scanner is positioned proximate to the mechanical link. The optical scanner is configured to direct the first and second laser beams onto the object. An interferometer is optically coupled to the optical scanner. The interferometer is configured to receive reflected light from the object and in response generate an electrical signal. The first laser source is kinematically mounted in a housing assembly.