Abstract: A radiation detection blanket for use in surveying a broad or irregular area of interest for radiation emissions. Small radiation detectors are affixed to the fabric and distributed relative to its surface area. The detector materials may be of the OSL, TLD, or ERD variety, or may be a combination of OSL, TLD and ERD. Detector materials having varying thicknesses of high Z coatings may be clustered together in the blanket fabric to yield a gamma radiation spectrum. Use of a converter material on the detector material allows the blanket to detect neutron radiation. The blanket includes specialized transmission means for allowing the detector materials to be read individually, by passing the reader along a surface or along an edge of the blanket. A composite radiation measurement is obtained upon reading the individual detectors, allowing determination of the radiation distribution within the object being surveyed by the blanket.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring the relative amounts of 235U and 238U in the gaseous phase of UF6 using tunable diode laser spectroscopy (TDLS). The invention is a faster, more accurate method for making such measurement. The improved method involves using methane (CH4) or acetylene (C2H2) as a calibration gas, and using a Fabry-Perot interferometer to calibrate the laser frequency, to determine the relative amounts of 235U and 238U in UF6 gas within ±0.27% accuracy, for example 7.00%±0.27%. The sample time required for such measurement is about one second.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a system and method for detecting controlled substances, including without limitation, explosives, chemical agents, drugs, narcotics, and their precursors or byproducts before such substances are used on the general population. Specifically, the present invention is a system and method of analyzing municipal solid waste, or refuse, for the presence of controlled substances.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring and recording the torque applied to a bolt. The present invention utilizes a piezoelectric compound disposed between an upper member and a lower member. When the bolt is tightened, the piezoelectric compound is physically distorted and a net electrical potential is created across the piezoelectric compound. A processor in the bolt measures the electrical potential and calculates the torque based on the potential. The bolt then transmits a data packet comprising the torque value and bolt information to a wrench, which later transmits the data packet to a computer and a database. Alternatively, the bolt can be configured with a transmitter so that the data packet can be transmitted directly from the bolt to the computer and database. The bolt can also be configured with energizing circuitry that acts as a power source for the bolt.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring the relative amounts of 235U and 238U in the gaseous phase of UF6 using tunable diode laser spectroscopy (TDLS). The invention is a faster, more accurate method for making such measurement. The improved method involves using methane (CH4) or acetylene (C2H2) as a calibration gas, and using a Fabry-Perot interferometer to calibrate the laser frequency, to determine the relative amounts of 235U and 238U in UF6 gas within ±0.27% accuracy, for example 7.00%±0.27%. The sample time required for such measurement is about one second.

Abstract: A system and an apparatus for detecting explosive in real time is provided for. The apparatus involves a chamber in which items pass through or people walk through for detecting said explosive particles in real time. The explosive particles from either the people or items will be deposited into a cell by an influx of air flow from the chamber flowing to the cell. The cell includes a heating device and an optical scheme. The cell is heated to a predetermined temperature in which the explosive particles are divided into small molecular components that can be detected. The optical scheme detects the smaller molecules. The computer system controls the apparatus and analyzes the data gathered.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring and recording the torque applied to a bolt. The present invention utilizes a piezoelectric compound disposed between an upper member and a lower member. When the bolt is tightened, the piezoelectric compound is physically distorted and a net electrical potential is created across the piezoelectric compound. A processor in the bolt measures the electrical potential and calculates the torque based on the potential. The bolt then transmits a data packet comprising the torque value and bolt information to a wrench, which later transmits the data packet to a computer and a database. Alternatively, the bolt can be configured with a transmitter so that the data packet can be transmitted directly from the bolt to the computer and database. The bolt can also be configured with energizing circuitry that acts as a power source for the bolt.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a system, apparatus, and method of deactivating irrigation system with a wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal. The irrigation system includes a control box coupled with a receiver for receiving the wide broadcast Radio Frequency signal. The signal is initiated in response to a drought condition. The received signal is decoded into degrees of severity of the drought. Under a severe drought condition, the irrigation system is deactivated by proper authority regardless of a user's intention. Under a drought condition that is not severe, the user may program the control box either to deactivate the irrigation system or to give control to a timer. In an embodiment of the present invention, under such condition, the user may partly deactivate the irrigation and partly give control to the timer.

Abstract: The seal system is comprised of a custom integrated circuit utilizing a special CMOS gate-array technology that can be utilized to build inexpensive tamper-resistant electronic seals. The electronic circuit includes a special analog as well as digital, single-chip circuitry that senses the state of the seal, and when interrogated, transmits that state via a 35-bit data word to a seal reader device, allowing remote monitoring and control of containers and expensive goods. Any attempt to tamper with the seal will be recorded in the circuit for later transmittal to the hand-held seal reader/verifier. Each seal has a unique 20-bit identification number, combined with a 6-bit random seal code and a 6-bit resistance value. The seal electronics may be utilized in a way to provide several types of seals, namely, a shipping container seal, an event triggering seal, and event logging seal, and a tamper-proof seal as well as combinations thereof.

Abstract: A tag associated with a device and that identifies the device with respect to other devices is connected to a communication link with the same connector used to connect the device to a source of power. The device connector includes an element for receiving electrical power and a data contact connected to the tag. An electrical power connector (which serves as the power source) has an element for engaging the element of the device connector and applying electrical power thereto, and another data contact connected to the communication link. When the device connector is engaged with the electrical power source connector, the data contacts engage one another and establish a data path between the communication link and the tag. The connection to the communication link allows information to be exchanged between the communication link and the tag.

Abstract: A touch-sensitive data input device for use with a computer system having a display screen has a demountable bezel which establishes a grid of light beams in front of the display screen. Misalignment between the display screen frame of reference and the bezel frame of reference is corrected by the calculation of coordinate transforms which are applied to bezel grid coordinates to translate same to display screen coordinates. The coordinate transforms are generated by the computer in accordance with a program of instructions executed in a preliminary bezel alignment procedure.