Abstract: Flexible, stretchable RFID tags are formed by a pocket that is formed from one or more substrates and layers of adhesive, and an electronic circuit that is located within this pocket. The RFID tags can include a stretchable substrate and an electronic circuit attached to the stretchable substrate by one or a finite number of discrete spaced apart attachment locations. When the pocket is formed by relatively thick adhesive layers adhering together one or more flexible substrates to form an internal cavity, the electronic circuit is located within this cavity and either is not adhered to any of the substrates of the cavity, and is free to move about within the cavity, or the electronic circuit can be attached to a substrate by a thin layer of adhesive.

Abstract: A shielded antenna (100) includes a spiral antenna (110) and a shield (120) disposed on the spiral antenna. The spiral antenna comprises a plurality of substantially concentric loops. The shield comprises a plurality of electrically isolated electrically conductive segments forming a regular pattern, such that in a top plan view, at least one segment overlaps a portion of at least two loops, and at least one pair of adjacent conductive segments defines an electrically insulative gap therebetween.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of making an abrasive article is disclosed. The method can comprise: providing a surface; disposing magnetizable abrasive particles on the surface; and varying a magnetic field relative to the magnetizable abrasive particles to impart a non-random orientation and/or alignment to the magnetizable abrasive particles relative to the surface.

Abstract: A method may include coupling a first electrical connector of an article to a second electrical connector of a measurement device. The article may include a tested material, the first electrical connector, and a plurality of electrical contacts electrically connected to the first electrical connector. The measurement device may include a power source and a user interface. The method also may include causing, by a controller, an electrical signal to be applied to a pair of drive electrical contacts from the plurality of electrical contacts. The method further may include receiving, by the controller, from an analog-to-digital converter, a measured voltage measured using a measurement electrical contact from the plurality of electrical contacts. The method also may include determining, by the controller, whether the tested material includes a crack or other defect based on the measured voltage.

Abstract: Techniques are described for a lens containing high dielectric resonators. In one example, a lens comprises a substrate for propagating an electromagnetic wave and a plurality of resonators dispersed throughout the substrate. Each of the plurality of resonators has a diameter selected based at least in part on a wavelength of the electromagnetic wave and is formed of a dielectric material having a resonance frequency selected based at least in part on a frequency of the electromagnetic wave. Each of the plurality of resonators also has a relative permittivity that is greater than a relative permittivity of the substrate. At least two of the plurality of resonators are spaced within the substrate according to a lattice constant that defines a distance between a center of a first one of the resonators and a center of a neighboring second one of the resonators.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing, measuring, or monitoring the temperature of an electrical transmission line of an electrical cable, are provided. A temperature sensitive inductor is disposed in thermal contact with the electrical transmission line. The temperature of the electrical transmission line can be sensed, measured, or monitored by measuring the inductance of the temperature sensitive inductor. Mechanisms and methods to eliminate, minimize, or account for the magnetic coupling between the current carried by the electrical transmission line and the temperature sensitive inductor are provided.

Abstract: A data communication apparatus, system, and method are described. The data communication system comprises a transceiver disposed on an entrance port to an enclosure, such as an underground enclosure. The transceiver includes a housing, the housing mountable to the entrance port, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate with a network outside of the underground enclosure. The data communication system also includes a monitoring device disposed in the underground enclosure that provides data related to a real-time condition within the underground enclosure. The data communication system also includes a sensor analytics unit to process the data from the monitoring device/sensor and generate a processed data signal and to communicate the processed data signal to the transceiver.

Abstract: A bonded abrasive wheel comprises magnetizable abrasive particles retained in an organic binder. The bonded abrasive wheel has a central portion adjacent to a central hub, an outer circumference and a rotational axis extending through the central hub. The magnetizable abrasive particles adjacent to the central hub are aligned at an average angle of less than 35 degrees with respect to the rotational axis, and the magnetizable abrasive particles adjacent to the outer circumference of the bonded abrasive wheel are aligned at an average angle that is from 35 and 90 degrees, inclusive, with respect to the rotational axis. Methods of making a bonded abrasive wheel are also disclosed.

Abstract: At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature a mobile sensing system comprising a sensing device for measuring a thermal property of an object, comprising an RF circuit and an antenna electronically coupled to the RF circuit, a sensor electronically coupled to the RF circuit, and a thermal source thermally coupled to the sensor and electronically coupled to the RF circuit, a mobile device having a processor, an RF reader connected to or integrated with the mobile device, wherein the RF reader is configured to interrogate the sensing device; wherein the sensing device receives power when the RF reader interrogates the sensing device and provides at least a portion of the power to the thermal source.

Abstract: A bonded abrasive wheel comprises magnetizable abrasive particles retained in a first organic binder. The bonded abrasive wheel has a central portion adjacent to a central hub, an outer circumference, and a rotational axis extending through the central hub. A majority of the magnetizable abrasive particles are substantially parallel to the rotational axis. A method of making the bonded abrasive wheel is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for optimally determining sensor or infrastructure placement in a fluid network, for determining an anomaly of interest in the fluid network, and for determining sensor coverage in a fluid network, which are based on a model of the fluid network represented by a directed graph.

Abstract: A fluid treatment cartridge includes a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a treatment media contained within the housing. The fluid treatment cartridge includes a detection member comprising at least one closed electrically conductive loop having at least two spatially separate sections. Each of the sections generates a magnetic response when at least one section is electromagnetically excited. The magnetic response of each section is predetermined by the physical shape of the section and comprises at least one of a predetermined magnetic phase response and a predetermined magnetic amplitude response. The predetermined magnetic response of at least one other section of the closed electrically conductive loop corresponds to at least a one digit code.

Abstract: In general, techniques are described for filter media monitoring within a filtration system. The filter media monitoring techniques described herein include, for example, direct contact with the filter media, e.g., a sensor may be located inside a boundary defined by a surface of the filter media, or indirect contact with the filter media, e.g., a sensor may be located outside the boundary defined by the surface of the filter media such that the sensor does not make direct physical contact with the filter media being monitored.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for optimally determining sensor or infrastructure placement in a fluid network, for determining an anomaly of interest in the fluid network, and for determining sensor coverage in a fluid network, which are based on a model of the fluid network represented by a directed graph.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) sensing device in an assembly is adapted to wirelessly communicate with a remote transceiver. The sensing device includes a substrate; an antenna disposed on the substrate; an electronic circuit disposed on the substrate and electrically coupled to the antenna; a heating element electrically coupled to the electronic circuit for heating a target area; and a sensing element thermally coupled to the heating element for sensing a temperature of the heating element. The RF sensing device is configured to wirelessly receive a power and provides the power to the heating element.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining sensor or infrastructure placement in a fluid network, for determining an anomaly of interest in the fluid network, and for optimally determining sensor coverage in a fluid network, which are based on a model of the fluid network represented by a directed graph.

Abstract: At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature a mobile sensing system comprising a sensing device for measuring a thermal property of an object, comprising an RF circuit and an antenna electronically coupled to the RF circuit, a sensor electronically coupled to the RF circuit, and a thermal source thermally coupled to the sensor and electronically coupled to the RF circuit, a mobile device having a processor, an RF reader connected to or integrated with the mobile device, wherein the RF reader is configured to interrogate the sensing device; wherein the sensing device receives power when the RF reader interrogates the sensing device and provides at least a portion of the power to the thermal source.

Abstract: Radar radiation redirecting tapes (1, 2) include a first plurality of individual radar-reflecting directional antennae (5, 11). Each directional antenna comprises at least three elongate, unevenly spaced antenna conductors (10, 20, 30), arranged with their long extensions parallel to each other in the plane of the tape, such that the directional antenna is operable to reflect incoming radar radiation predominantly in a direction (80) which is orthogonal to the long extension of the antenna conductors and parallel to the plane of the tape.

Abstract: A portable sensor for measuring a hydration level of an object in close physical proximity with the sensor includes a portable housing having a total volume of less than about 50 cm3. First circuitry disposed in the housing includes a thermal source, a controller electrically coupled to the thermal source, a temperature sensing element, and a processor coupled to the temperature sensing element. When the object is in close physical proximity with the sensor, the thermal source is energized by the controller with a signal having a known function of time. The object affects a time variation of a temperature of the thermal source, the temperature sensing element senses the affected time variation of the temperature of the thermal source, and the processor determines a hydration level of the object based on a characteristic of the affected time variation of the temperature of the thermal source.

Abstract: A system for use in wirelessly monitoring a pipeline such as a natural gas pipe. The system includes a locator configured to wirelessly transmit power and a subsoil sensor marker located adjacent the pipe and configured to wirelessly communicate with the locator. The sensor marker includes a microcontroller, a memory module, a sensor configured to sense the presence of a gas, and a power module. The power module is configured to harvest a sufficient amount of the power wirelessly transmitted from the locator in order to operate the microcontroller to take a measurement via the sensor, save the measurement in the memory module, and wirelessly transmit the measurement to the locator.