Abstract: A fire-extinguisher monitoring system includes a monitoring device that is externally locatable relative to a fire extinguisher, the monitoring device being arranged or configured to non-intrusively monitor a status of the fire extinguisher, the status including at least one of a presence of the fire extinguisher and a level of fire-suppression fluid contained by the fire extinguisher.

Abstract: A stage positioning system and method for aligning optical components according to a figure of merit is disclosed. The system includes a stage assembly having six axes of freedom wherein the pivot point of the stage assembly motion is user definable and preferably outside the envelope formed by the stage assembly. The stage assembly includes three sub-assemblies. A base sub-assembly provides x and z axes motion, a yaw stage provides yaw about the y axis, and a three-axis stage provides y motion as well as pitch and roll about the x and z axes, respectively.