Abstract: A miniature lower cost optical sensing apparatus and method are provided for determining the concentration and/or hazard from a target gas by means of IR or visible photon monitoring one or more sensors that responds to carbon monoxide. The apparatus comprises a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and at least a portion of the photon intensity passing through the sensor is quantified by one or more photodiode(s) in a system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one sensor's response to the target gas, e.g., transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode. The photo current from the photodiode is converted to a sensor reading value proportional to the optical characteristics of the sensors and is loaded into a microprocessor or other logic circuit. In the microprocessor, the sensor readings may be differentiated to determine the rate of change of the sensor readings and the total photons absorbed value may be used to calculate the CO concentration and/or dose.

Abstract: A very small low cost apparatus and method are provided for determining concentration from a target gas by means optically monitoring one or more sensors that respond to carbon monoxide. The apparatus comprises a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and the photon intensity passing through the sensor is quantified by one or more photodiode(s) in a system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one sensor's response to the target gas, e.g., transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode. The photocurrent from the photodiode is converted to a sensor reading value proportional to the optical characteristics of the sensors and is loaded into a microprocessor or other logic circuit. In the microprocessor, the sensor readings may be differentiated to determine the rate of change of the sensor readings and the total photons absorbed value may be used to calculate the CO concentration.

Abstract: The present invention provides very small low cost apparatus and method for determining the concentration and/or hazard from a target gas by means of optically monitoring one or more sensors that responds to carbon monoxide. The apparatus comprises a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and the photon intensity passing through the sensor is quantified by one or more photodiode(s) in a system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one sensor's response to the target gas, e.g., transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode. The photocurrent from the photodiode is converted to a sensor reading value proportional to the optical characteristics of the sensors and is loaded into a microprocessor or other logic circuit. In the microprocessor, the sensor readings may be differentiated to determine the rate of change of the sensor readings and the total photons absorbed value may be used to calculate the CO concentration.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for removing CO gas from gas streams or static air. One application of interest in removing CO from air to provide clean air to breathe or other application such as CO monitoring instruments for calibration, to the air side of the fuel cell and to the reformate stream that is employed for a PEM fuel cell. This invention protects the fuel cell catalyst by a means to controlling CO in the reformate stream. The control system is designed to minimize the CO concentration using the novel CO oxidation catalysts described above. One preferred embodiment catalyzes and monitors the CO to indicate the effectiveness; and further comprising two alternate chambers containing catalyst, which is made of high surface area substrate with supramolecular chemistry coated onto that substrate.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus incorporates a responding gas sensor to measure and display gas concentrations or other indications. Calculation of a gas concentration may be derived from an output signal of a light detector through the use of a linear equation. Through the use of digital processing an output signal may be sampled to calculate a gas concentration based on a rate of change of the output voltage.

Abstract: The present invention provides very small low cost apparatus and method for determining the concentration and/or hazard from a target gas by means of optically monitoring one or more sensors that responds to carbon monoxide. The apparatus comprises a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and the photon intensity passing through the sensor is quantified by one or more photodiode(s) in a system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one sensor's response to the target gas, e.g., transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode. The photocurrent from the photodiode is converted to a sensor reading value proportional to the optical characteristics of the sensors and is loaded into a microprocessor or other logic circuit. In the microprocessor, the sensor readings may be differentiated to determine the rate of change of the sensor readings and the total photons absorbed value may be used to calculated the CO concentration.

Abstract: The present invention is a new sensor system with catalyst for control and one with a dummy catalyst. An apparatus and method for rapidly determining the concentration of CO, water vapor, and temperature. One of the major reasons to rapidly determine a small but sudden rise CO is for fire detection. The combination of the CO, followed by rapid relative humidity rise is a clear indication of possible fire or an appliance malfunction, blocked flu or other combustion process gone awry. If the incident is accompanied by ions or particles that would be smoke from a fire. The signal from the CO determined by numerically compensating for humidity changes. Any one or two parameters could cause an increase the sensitivity of the other in a fire detector such as combination CO, relative humidity, temperature and smoke detector. Another application for rapid CO detection is in a vehicle to protect the occupants from a catastrophic CO event.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the presence and/or concentration gases using an optical response. These sensors may be very small, fast and low-cost. The preferred embodiment of the invention is accomplished by means of photon monitoring one or more sensors that respond to the target gas. For example by 1) passing the photons through the sensor, 2) multi-passes of a photon beam through the sensor, 3) by evanescent field absorption (EFA) and 4) by using index of refraction changes to switch the photon from one path to another. Rapid detection of gases such as CO can be made by multiple passes of photons through a sensor that is absorbing photons of that wavelength range. The photon beam is passed back and forth through the sensor by some means such as using highly reflective optical surfaces or cavity. In essences the multiple internal reflections in a waveguide are similar to the multi-pass photon method except chat the evanescent method only penetrates about 200 nm.

Abstract: A device for welding together optical fiber, constructed and put into practice, according to the principles of this invention, comprises a photon source capable of transmitting photons to at a desired waveband to a desired target, e.g., a solid state part, a fiber optic cable, or a optical waveguide. The desired target, e.g., the end of an optical fiber, comprises a photon absorber material that is designed to absorb the photons emitted by the photon source. Through exposure of the photons emitted from the photon source, the absorber is caused to melt within a very short period of time for a defined period of time, during which time the desired target parts are joined and welded together. Ideally, the photon absorber material is matched to absorb photons in the same waveband as that emitted by the photon source. The device is configured to efficiently produce, focus, and deliver photons to the target area for welding.

Abstract: CO exposure is a serious public health problem in the U.S., causing both morbidity and mortality (lifetime mortality risk approximately 10−4). Sparse data from population-based CO exposure assessments indicate that approximately 10% of the U.S. population is exposed to CO above the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. No CO exposure measurement technology is available for affordable population-based CO exposure assessment studies. Two CO measuring devices, an occupational CO dosimeter (LOCD) and an indoor air quality (IAQ) passive sampler, were designed, developed, and tested both in the laboratories and field. Time-weighted-average CO exposure of the compact diffusion tube sampler containing a selective and non-regenerative palladium-molybdenum based CO sensor is quantified by using a simple spectrophotometer. Both devices are capable of measuring CO exposure precisely with relative standard deviation of less than 20% and with bias of less than 10%.

Abstract: A training aid for teaching needle biopsy of the human breast. The inventive methods use breast models having lifelike properties providing accurate tactile sensation during palpation of the breast that enable a trainee to learn to locate modeled internal lesions and similar tissues in the breast. These same properties allow learning of tactile sensations indicating relative position and motion of biopsy needles during biopsy needling procedures. To facilitate tactile learning, the breast model includes an opaque skin that blocks the trainee view of a breast cavity containing modeled lesions, ensuring that needling procedures are performed based solely on “feel”. The present invention also includes alternative training methods using a second breast model that is sufficiently transparent to allow viewing of modeled lesions from any relative position. The present invention includes training systems incorporating breast models and viewing stands and methods of training using these aids.

Abstract: A training aid for teaching fine needle biopsy of the human breast. It provides breast models having lifelike properties providing accurate tactile sensation during palpation of the breast that enable a trainee to learn to locate modeled internal lesions and similar tissues in the breast. These same properties allow learning of tactile sensations indicating relative position and motion of biopsy needles during biopsy needling procedures. To facilitate tactile learning, the breast model includes an opaque skin that blocks the trainee view of a breast cavity containing modeled lesions, ensuring that needling procedures are performed based solely on “feel”. A support such as a stand is provided to retain a breast model during training and to allow viewing of the breast model cavity. Optical elements, such as mirrors or video cameras are used to provide a viewing path to persons separated from a trainee.

Abstract: Sensor and sensor assemblies generally comprises a sensor body having a chamber disposed therein for accommodating a sensor reagent or material. The chamber is defined within the body between optically transparent body portions. The chamber is in gas flow communication with a passage used for passing a collected breath to the sensor material. A liquid or solid sensor material is disposed within the chamber and is designed to change in optical properties upon exposure to a target gas within the collected breath sample by reaction therewith. A gas permeable membrane can be disposed over the chamber opening to retain the sensor material, in the event it is liquid, and to permit the diffusion of gas from the collected breath sample to the sensor material. The sensor assembly is used with a photon source that emits photons, within a selected wavelength band, onto the chamber and sensor material, and a photon collector that is used to receive photons that exit the chamber.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the concentration of CO gas in a fuel reformate stream such as in a PEM fuel cell vehicle. This invention protects the fuel cell catalyst by controlling the reformate stream system to minimize the CO and reduce it by a novel catalyst system that selectively converts CO to methane but does not react with carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The catalyst may reduce the CO to methane by reaction with hydrogen. The preferred embodiment both monitors the CO by a thermal differential sensing means and an optical biomimetic sensor and or a conductivity sensor. These sensors respond to the CO gas and are monitored by one or more monitoring sensors such as the temperature and or conductivity difference between the control and the catalytic material such as nickel and in the biomimetic sensor an optical change is monitored.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means and a device to control relative humidity and airborne contaminants within a defined environment. The devices and methods of the present invention enable a user to regulate the relative humidity of a defined environment and insure that extreme conditions, e.g. less than 15% or greater than 90% relative humidity, do not exist. The air quality control system can also be used to control the relative humidity in and about a narrow range. Control over relative humidity and airborne contaminants is achieved by combining an appropriate salt and water solution, such as a saturated salt solution with a solid phase of that salt, with an isolation membrane and a getter system. The present invention is particularly useful for housing sensors, such as SIR sensors, which are sensitive to relative humidity extremes.

Abstract: A combustion device comprises a porous distributive layer, a combustion chamber disposed downstream of the porous distributive layer, and an emissive matrix in an active flame zone in the combustion chamber of the device downstream from the porous distributive layer. The emissive matrix comprises a three dimensional matrix structure made of heat absorbing, heat radiating, and heat conducting bodies. The device includes a blower for delivering a fuel/oxidizer mixture at sufficiently elevated pressure to an upstream face of the porous distributive layer to distribute the active flame zone substantially throughout the emissive matrix.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the concentration and/or hazard from a target gas by means of optically monitoring one or more sensors that responds to the target gas by means of an optical change. The apparatus comprises a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and the photon intensity passing through the sensor is quantified by more than one photodiode in a system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one sensor's response to the target gas, e.g., transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode. The photocurrent from the photodiode is converted to a digital sensor reading value proportional to the optical characteristics of the sensors and is loaded into a microprocessor or other logic circuit. In the microprocessor, the sensor readings are essentially differentiated to determine the rate of change of the sensor readings.

Abstract: A superemissive combustion device of this invention comprises a porous distributive layer and an apparatus for delivering a fuel/oxidizer mixture to an upstream face of the porous distributive layer. A superemissive advanced emissive matrix in is disposed within an active flame zone downstream from the porous distributive layer. The emissive matrix is in the form of a three dimensional matrix of radiating bodies that is optically thin to electromagnetic radiation. The emissive matrix is either formed from or includes a coating of a superemissive material that is selected to emit photons within a predetermined wavelength range when thermally stimulated. The emitted photons are received by one or more photovoltaic cells disposed adjacent the matrix.

Abstract: A method for making very strong gas mantles and other ceramic structures, and the resulting products, are provided. According to the method, an organic or composite structure is first pyrolyzed in the absence of oxygen to remove hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, leaving a porous carbon or composite structure, which is then impregnated with a metal compound-containing solution or slurry which is later fired in the presence of an oxidizing atmosphere to produce a refractory metal oxide which has about the same shape as the precursor carbon or composite structure. Due to minimal shrinkage of the mostly carbon or composite precursor, the resulting mantles and other ceramic structures have few defects in the fibers and great strength.

Abstract: A system for thermally stimulating a laser emissive device comprises a thermal generating device, a photon emissive device that is capable of generating photons upon exposure to thermal energy, a laser emissive source, and an optical waveguide interposed between the photon emissive source and laser emissive source to direct photons to the laser emissive source to effect photon stimulation of the same. The waveguide may be in the form of a light pipe comprising the photon emissive material, which material is disposed within the thermal energy source. The photon emissive material is selected to produce a specific wavelength of photons that are collected within and directed through the optical waveguide to a laser rod. The photons routed to the laser rod stimulate a specific wavelength laser emission. If desired, the system can also be used with more than one target, e.g., more than one laser device, or a photovoltaic cell to produce electricity.