Abstract: An optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit that includes an input electrical power source, a heat pipe, a power electronic switch or plurality of interconnected power electronic switches, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the input power source, a mechanism for connecting comprising an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or input bus bars, an optically isolated drive circuit connected to the switch, a heat sink assembly upon which the power electronic switch or switches is mounted, an output load, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the output load, the mechanism for connecting including an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or output bus bars, at least one a fiber optic temperature sensor mounted on the heat sink assembly, at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar, at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the load int

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel apparatus and method for volumetric dilatometry. A volumetric dilatometer includes an optical displacement sensor and a means for using a gap measurement obtained from the displacement sensor application in an application which requires the measurement of absolute distance and/or displacement. A novel signal-processing algorithm for volumetric dilatometry is also disclosed. The signal-processing algorithm includes a step for recovering the phase information from a spectral signal by taking the Fourier transform of a spectral signal and deriving a sensor gap measurement from the phase information. A micro-translation stage is provided for automated positioning of the optical sensor and automated re-leveling in an out-of-range condition. A heat source is consists of a vertical tube furnace, such as those found in drywell technologies.

Abstract: An optically isolated power electronic power conversion circuit that includes an input electrical power source, a heat pipe, a power electronic switch or plurality of interconnected power electronic switches, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the input power source, a mechanism for connecting comprising an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or input bus bars, an optically isolated drive circuit connected to the switch, a heat sink assembly upon which the power electronic switch or switches is mounted, an output load, a mechanism for connecting the switch to the output load, the mechanism for connecting including an interconnecting cable and/or bus bar or plurality of interconnecting cables and/or output bus bars, at least one a fiber optic temperature sensor mounted on the heat sink assembly, at least one fiber optic current sensor mounted on the load interconnection cable and/or output bus bar, at least one fiber optic voltage sensor mounted on the load int

Abstract: A system and method for gathering and analyzing data captured from one or more remote sensing units positioned in the field. Remote sensing units preferably utilize optical sensors. Power to sensing unit components is preferably selectively controlled to reduce power consumption. Remote sensing units according to the invention can be used for a variety of purposes, including water quality or electrical power monitoring, and data from such sensing units is preferably transmitted to a secure host terminal via a communications link. The host terminal preferably formats, analyzes, and stores the data for customer review and retrieval. If alarm conditions exist that require immediate customer notification, such notification can be sent to a customer via one or more telecommunications means. Through the use of the present invention, businesses can shift from a reactive to a proactive mode of monitoring and operation.

Abstract: An antibiofouling material, a method for making said antibiofouling material, a sensor apparatus employing said antibiofouling material, and a method of making said sensor apparatus. The disclosed antibiofouling material includes one or more biocides and one or more charge transfer compounds are embedded within a copolymer host matrix. Biocides used in the present invention may include, but are not limited to, Halobenzonitriles, Azoles, diuron; and simazine. Among its uses, the antibiofouling material of the present invention can be used in a sensor apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, one or more surfaces of said sensor apparatus are coated with an antibiofouling material comprised of one or more biocides, one or more charge transfer compounds, and a copolymer host matrix.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel apparatus and method for volumetric dilatometry. A volumetric dilatometer includes an optical displacement sensor and a means for using a gap measurement obtained from the displacement sensor application in an application which requires the measurement of absolute distance and/or displacement. A novel signal-processing algorithm for volumetric dilatometry is also disclosed. The signal-processing algorithm includes a step for recovering the phase information from a spectral signal by taking the Fourier transform of a spectral signal and deriving a sensor gap measurement from the phase information. A micro-translation stage is provided for automated positioning of the optical sensor and automated re-leveling in an out-of-range condition. A heat source is consists of a vertical tube furnace, such as those found in drywell technologies.

Abstract: Described are the design of a rare earth iron garnet sensor element, optical methods of interrogating the sensor element, methods of coupling the optical sensor element to a waveguide, and an optical and electrical processing system for monitoring the polarization rotation of a linearly polarized wavefront undergoing external modulation due to magnetic field or electrical current fluctuation. The sensor element uses the Faraday effect, an intrinsic property of certain rare-earth iron garnet materials, to rotate the polarization state of light in the presence of a magnetic field. The sensor element may be coated with a thin-film mirror to effectively double the optical path length, providing twice the sensitivity for a given field strength or temperature change. A semiconductor sensor system using a rare earth iron garnet sensor element is described.

Abstract: An antibiofouling material, a method for making said antibiofouling material, a sensor apparatus employing said antibiofouling material, and a method of making said sensor apparatus. The disclosed antibiofouling material includes one or more biocides and one or more charge transfer compounds are embedded within a copolymer host matrix. Biocides used in the present invention may include, but are not limited to, Halobenzonitriles, Azoles, diuron; and simazine. Among its uses, the antibiofouling material of the present invention can be used in a sensor apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, one or more surfaces of said sensor apparatus are coated with an antibiofouling material comprised of one or more biocides, one or more charge transfer compounds, and a copolymer host matrix.

Abstract: A system for gathering, transmitting, and storing data captured from remote monitoring sites positioned in the field. The system has specific applicability to distributed chemical sensing and reporting, and distributed power monitoring and reporting. Data from Transducers monitoring water quality parameters or electrical power parameters is transmitted to the Internet or Intranet via a communications link. Such data is relayed to secure servers, where it is formatted, analyzed, and stored for customer retrieval. If alarm conditions exist that require immediate customer notification, such notifications are sent to a customer via one or more telecommunications means, including pager, cellular telephone, or email. With respect to the distributed chemical sensing embodiments, the invention preferably utilizes fiber optic chemical sensors that address the problem of biofouling. Using anti-fouling measures, the invention can provide continuous, long-term waterway monitoring.