Abstract: Methods of measuring free and total chlorine content in solutions are provided without lowering the pH of the solution to the acid range by modifying a solution containing chlorine and water to contain a proton donating compound and electrochemically measuring the concentration of the chlorine in the solution. An additional potassium iodide reagent is added when total chlorine content is measured. Stable aqueous reagent solutions useful in automated chlorine analyzers which contain sodium bicarbonate, a base, and water or borax, water, and acid are also described. Finally, apparatuses for detecting the level of chlorine in water samples utilizing an automated chlorine detector, a cartridge having a solid proton donating compound, and optionally a standpipe are discussed.

Abstract: A compact integrated biosensor has an integrated light source and integrated optical detectors made with gratings, dielectric coating, or prism for specific wavelength selection to define signatures that identify elements, biohazardous materials, environmentally hazardous materials, biological substance or any chemical substance on the sample holders. A micropump draws gas, ambient fluids and samples to the sample holders. Electrical signals are provided from the optical detectors on output lines to the microprocessor. A device connected to the microprocessor compares characteristic responses to actual signal parameters. An output indicates the presence (or absence) of particular biological, chemical or environmentally hazardous material. A battery, fuel cell or solar cell operated power supply provides electrical energy to the integrated light source and optical detectors.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and methods for depositing materials on a substrate, and for performing other selected functions, such as material destruction and removal, temperature control, imaging, detection, therapy and positional and locational control. In various embodiments, the apparatus and methods are suitable for use in a tabletop setting, in vitro or in vivo.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for embedding electrical components within a device including a frequency responsive structure, such as an antenna or a frequency selective surface. Electrical components are selected and locations for placing the selected components within the device are selected for optimizing performance characteristics of the structure. The selection may be performed by modeling the device with various electrical components embedded at various locations using, for example, a genetic algorithm. The selected components are embedded at the selected locations. The frequency responsive structure and the selected components embedded at the selected locations may be produced in the same manufacturing process. The selected electrical components may be embedded at the selected locations as contiguous and integral parts of the device and may be embedded within the frequency responsive structure.

Abstract: A laser sintering method and apparatus has a material on a substrate. A laser is used for completely sintering the material and enhancing adhesion of the material to the substrate without damaging the substrate. Any computing device may receive and process data and automatically control the sintering operation. A protective layer may be provided on the substrate. The substrate may be a low temperature substrate and the protective layer may be a protective thermal barrier which prevents damage to the substrate during sintering and also enhances adhesion of the material to the substrate. The substrate, the material, and the protective thermal barrier may be formed as an electronic component. A feedback control system coupled to the computer provides information to the computer for processing and controlling output of the laser. The material on the substrate may have any shape. The substrate may also have any shape.

Abstract: A compact integrated biosensor has an integrated light source and integrated optical detectors made with gratings, dielectric coating, or prism for specific wavelength selection to define signatures that identify elements, biohazardous materials, environmentally hazardous materials, biological substance or any chemical substance on the sample holders. A micropump draws gas, ambient fluids and samples to the sample holders. Electrical signals are provided from the optical detectors on output lines to the microprocessor. A device connected to the microprocessor compares characteristic responses to actual signal parameters. An output indicates the presence (or absence) of particular biological, chemical or environmentally hazardous material. A battery fuel cell or solar cell operated power supply provides electrical energy to the integrated light source and optical detectors.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of and a device for adjusting the concavity of a springback antenna reflector. The method and device of the present invention can be used to adjust the concavity of the springback reflector prior to stowage within a satellite to correct actual or anticipated variations in the desired shape of reflector that are caused by storage of the reflector, fabrication of the reflector, thermal effects on the reflector, and moisture absorption by the material from which the reflector is fabricated. By adjusting the concavity of the reflector to correct the variations in the shape of the reflector, degradation of the performance of the reflector due to distortions in the shape of the reflector may be greatly reduced.

Abstract: A gate has a first panel member coupled to a partially overlapping second panel member so that the panels are slidable laterally relative to each other, thus changing the overall width of the gate. An over-center type toggle linkage has a pivot link and a handle link and is operable to laterally expand and contract the lateral distance between the ends. One end of the pivot link is pivotally connected to the first panel and the other end is connected to a medial portion of the handle link. One end of the handle link is pivotally connected to a sliding carriage that slides relative to the second panel and the carriage and handle link end are selectively engagable with the second panel by a releasable engagement mechanism. When the engagement mechanism is disengaged, the panels are free to slide laterally to change the width of the gate. When the engagement mechanism is engaged, operation of the toggle linkage expands or contracts the overall width of the gate.

Abstract: There is disclosed in the present specification a method and apparatus for use of a downhole formation multi-tester instrument in the characterization of formation fluids, including measurement of the conductivity of water, often in the presence of hydrocarbons under dynamic flow conditions and determining the hydrocarbon volume of the formation fluid. Utilizing a coaxial transmission line as a flow tube within the formation multi-tester instrument an electromagnetic wave is generated which propagates through the formation fluid in a transverse electromagnetic mode. Measurement of the phase shift and attenuation of the electromagnetic wave at points within the flow tube allow characterization of the fluid inside the cavity of the flow tube for dielectric constant and conductivity. Dielectric constant and conductivity can then be related to fluid conductivity and hydrocarbon volume.

Abstract: An optical multiplexing system has several optical sensors connected in parallel between a source and a detector, the path length between source and detector via each sensor being different. The source is modulated at a number of different frequencies, the number being equal to that of the sensors. The output of the detector is an electrical signal which is fed to one input of a number of mixers, one for each frequency. The other input of each mixer receives a different one of each of the frequencies so that each mixer produces an output representative of different ones of the sensors.

Abstract: The size of a digitally-stored image is modified as desired by expanding the source image data and adjusting the input to the output raster display device accordingly.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for attenuating fluid foil tip vortices, featuring a "Coanda tip" and a "Coanda curtain." The fluid foil tip has a Coanda surface and means for discharging compressed fluid adjacent thereto; a resultant fluid barrier is formed generally chordwise and perpendicular to the fluid foil plane and tangential to the fluid foil tip upon Coanda entrainment and deflection of the discharged compressed fluid. The fluid barrier prevents crossflow from the higher pressure fluid region to the lower pressure fluid region, the fluid regions being separated by the fluid foil when moving relatively through a fluid, the fluid barrier thereby stemming tip vortex generation at its source.

Abstract: An accelerometer includes a compliant cylinder supported midway along its length and having equal masses at opposite ends. Two birefringent optical fibers with elliptical cores are wound around the cylinder in opposite senses on opposite sides of the support. Radiation from a source is supplied to one end of both fibers and emerges from the opposite end where it is supplied to respective photodiodes via respective polarizers. Acceleration axially of the cylinder causes extensive strain in one fiber and compressive strain in the other which causes equal and opposite changes in birefringence. A processor subtracts the change in outputs of the photodiodes to provide an acceleration output that is independent of temperature.

Abstract: An optical multiplexing system has a source of depolarized radiation at one end of a non-birefringent optical fiber that extends to a decoding interferometer. Sensors in series along the fiber induce birefringence so that the radiation is superimposed onto two polarization modes producing two output wave trains from each sensor with different time separations. The interferometer measures the time separations of the wave trains to identify the sensor and its output.

Abstract: An optical encoder has an optically-encoded plate having parallel tracks each comprising alternate opaque, reflective regions and transparent, non-reflective regions which differ in length between the tracks. LED's direct radiation onto one side of each track. Detectors located on one side of the plate provide an output in response to radiation reflected from the reflective regions of each track; detectors located on the opposite side of the plate provide an output in response to radiation transmitted through the transparent regions. The outputs from the detectors are normally complementary. A processor detects any loss of complementarity and determines the position of the plate close to the boundary between adjacent regions by comparing the detector outputs as one falls and the other rises.

Abstract: A method for in situ recalibration of a polarographic type electrochemical measuring system having a fourth electrode which includes adjusting the sensitivity of the system so that the measured value of a standard sample is correct and then measuring the transient response of the cell under those known sample conditions. A measurement of the transient response is then made for recalibration under unknown sample conditions with a readjustment of the sensitivity of the system in accordance with the change in the value of the transient response.

Abstract: A wing structure for an aircraft designed for both STOL and supersonic flight conditions includes a biplanar wing arrangement in which the lower wing section is staggered behind the upper wing section and the lower wing section is designed for both translational and rotational displacements relative to the upper wing section. For short takeoff and landing capabilities, the lower wing section is rotated and translated relative to the upper wing section so that the leading edge of the lower wing section is adjacent to the trailing edge of the upper wing section. For high speed supersonic flight, the lower wing section is adjacent to the trailing edge of the upper wing section. For high speed supersonic flight, the lower wing section is rotated and translated relative to the upper wing section so that the wing sections are substantially parallel.

Abstract: This invention is related to liquid polymer compositions and to methods of preparing these compositions which comprise a high molecular weight water-soluble vinyl addition polymer, water, one or more surfactants, and a water-soluble polyalkylene glycol, or water-soluble ethoxylated alcohol, alkylphenol or fatty acid.

Abstract: In a polarographic cell of the type which avoids depletion of the species being measured in the sample, the fouling of the membrane covering of the cell is detected by utilizing an electrode which can be substituted for that electrode from which the species being measured is electrochemically generated. That electrode is spaced remotely from the closely spaced anode and cathode so that when it is substituted depletion of the species being measured occurs outside the membrane. By comparing the current output from the cell when it is operating in its normal mode with the output when it is operating with the substitute electrode, as by dividing one value by the other, the degree of fouling of the membrane covering the cell is determined.