Abstract: The present invention provides novel apparatus and methods for fast quantitative measurement of perturbation of optical fields transmitted, reflected and/or scattered along a length of an optical fibre. The present invention can be used for point sensors as well as distributed sensors or the combination of both. In particular this technique can be applied to distributed sensors while extending dramatically the speed and sensitivity to allow the detection of acoustic perturbations anywhere along a length of an optical fibre while achieving fine spatial resolution. The present invention offers unique advantages in a broad range of acoustic sensing and imaging applications. Typical uses are for monitoring oil and gas wells such as for distributed flow metering and/or imaging, seismic imaging, monitoring long cables and pipelines, imaging within large vessel as well as for security applications.

Abstract: A cover for a slurry container is provided. The cover includes a plurality of attachable cover units including a first attachable cover unit and a second attachable cover unit. Each of the attachable cover units has at least one edge with an attachable portion. The first attachable cover unit is attached to the second attachable cover unit at the edge of the first and second attachable cover units having the attachable portion.

Abstract: A proximity sensor including a structure suspending at least one lens above a circuit board, light emitters operable to project light beams through the lens along a common projection plane, light detectors operable to detect amounts of light arriving through the lens at the detector, wherein an object in the projection plane reflects light from an emitter to one or more of the detectors, and wherein each emitter-detector pair, including one of the emitters and one of the detectors, when synchronously activated, is expected to generate a greater detection signal at the activated detector than the other detectors, were they to be synchronously activated with any of the emitters, when the object is located at a specific 2D location in the projection plane corresponding to the emitter-detector pair, and a processor identifying gestures performed by the object based on amounts of light detected by the detector of each emitter-detector pair.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel apparatus and methods for fast quantitative measurement of perturbation of optical fields transmitted, reflected and/or scattered along a length of an optical fibre. The present invention can be used for point sensors as well as distributed sensors or the combination of both. In particular this technique can be applied to distributed sensors while extending dramatically the speed and sensitivity to allow the detection of acoustic perturbations anywhere along a length of an optical fibre while achieving fine spatial resolution. The present invention offers unique advantages in a broad range of acoustic sensing and imaging applications. Typical uses are for monitoring oil and gas wells such as for distributed flow metering and/or imaging, seismic imaging, monitoring long cables and pipelines, imaging within large vessel as well as for security applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel apparatus and methods for fast quantitative measurement of perturbation of optical fields transmitted, reflected and/or scattered along a length of an optical fibre. The present invention can be used for point sensors as well as distributed sensors or the combination of both. In particular this technique can be applied to distributed sensors while extending dramatically the speed and sensitivity to allow the detection of acoustic perturbations anywhere along a length of an optical fibre while achieving fine spatial resolution. The present invention offers unique advantages in a broad range of acoustic sensing and imaging applications. Typical uses are for monitoring oil and gas wells such as for distributed flow metering and/or imaging, seismic imaging, monitoring long cables and pipelines, imaging within large vessel as well as for security applications.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel apparatus and methods for fast quantitative measurement of perturbation of optical fields transmitted, reflected and/or scattered along a length of an optical fibre. The present invention can be used for point sensors as well as distributed sensors or the combination of both. In particular this technique can be applied to distributed sensors while extending dramatically the speed and sensitivity to allow the detection of acoustic perturbations anywhere along a length of an optical fibre while achieving fine spatial resolution. The present invention offers unique advantages in a broad range of acoustic sensing and imaging applications. Typical uses are for monitoring oil and gas wells such as for distributed flow metering and/or imaging, seismic imaging, monitoring long cables and pipelines, imaging within large vessel as well as for security applications.

Abstract: A proximity sensor, including light emitters and light detectors mounted on a circuit board, two stacked lenses, positioned above the emitters and the detectors, including an extruded cylindrical lens and a Fresnel lens array, wherein each emitter projects light through the two lenses along a common projection plane, wherein a reflective object located in the projection plane reflects light from one or more emitters to one or more detectors, and wherein each emitter-detector pair, when synchronously activated, generates a greatest detection signal at the activated detector when the reflective object is located at a specific 2D location in the projection plane corresponding to the emitter-detector pair, and a processor sequentially activating the emitters and synchronously co-activating one or more detectors, and identifying a location of the object in the projection plane, based on amounts of light detected by the detector of each synchronously activated emitter-detector pair.

Abstract: There is provided an energy capture system. The system may comprise one or more rotor blades or solar panels and a compressor. The compressor is configured to be driven by the one or more rotor blades or solar panels to draw gas and to compress the gas, thereby producing a compressed material. The system further comprises a pressure receiver coupled to an output of the compressor and configured to receive the compressed material from the compressor. The system further comprises an energy recovery unit coupled to the pressure receiver and configured to receive the compressed material from the pressure receiver. The energy recovery unit is configured to generate mechanical and/or electrical energy using the compressed material.

Abstract: Storage systems and methods of manufacturing and using the same. A storage tank is provided with an inner vessel, an outer vessel, and a support system between the vessels. The support system may comprise a repeating pattern of openings that effectively lengthens the heat path between the inner and outer vessels.

Abstract: An optical method for identifying locations of objects in a plane, including serially projecting light beams along a detection area, from a plurality of locations along an edge of the detection area, whereby a reflective object inserted into the detection area reflects the projected light beams, directing the reflections of the projected light beams arriving at the edge of the detection area onto a plurality of light detectors, in a manner that maximizes amounts of reflected light arriving at the detectors when the light arrives at a particular angle in relation to the edge, and calculating two-dimensional coordinates of the inserted object in the detection area based on the particular angle and the outputs of the detectors.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel apparatus and methods for fast quantitative measurement of perturbation of optical fields transmitted, reflected and/or scattered along a length of an optical fibre. The present invention can be used for point sensors as well as distributed sensors or the combination of both. In particular this technique can be applied to distributed sensors while extending dramatically the speed and sensitivity to allow the detection of acoustic perturbations anywhere along a length of an optical fibre while achieving fine spatial resolution. The present invention offers unique advantages in a broad range of acoustic sensing and imaging applications. Typical uses are for monitoring oil and gas wells such as for distributed flow metering and/or imaging, seismic imaging, monitoring long cables and pipelines, imaging within large vessel as well as for security applications.

Abstract: A sensor for a control panel, including a housing along an edge of the panel, light emitters projecting light along an in-air detection plane over the panel and detectors detecting reflections of the projected light, reflected by an object in the detection plane, lenses oriented such that each detector receives maximum light intensity when light enters a corresponding lens at a particular angle, whereby for each emitter-detector pair, when the object is located at a specific position in the detection plane, light emitted by the emitter of that pair is reflected by the object back through one of the lenses at the particular angle to the detector of that pair, the specific position being associated with that emitter-detector pair, and a processor configured to determine panel locations, map each location to a position in the detection plane associated with an emitter-detector pair, mapping the panel to the detection plane.

Abstract: An anaerobic digestion system is provided. The system includes a biomass storage container and a cover positioned over the biomass storage container, where the cover is sealed at an outer edge of the anaerobic digester. Weights may be arranged on the surface of the cover, and the sealed edges may form a water collection region. Additional systems, including thermal management, gas processing, energy storage and recovery, and sensing can also be included.

Abstract: Generating interactive in-air images, by emitters emitting light pulses along an in-air detection plane, light detectors, lenses configured such that there is a particular angle of entry at which each detector receives maximal light intensity when pulses enter a lens corresponding to the detector at the particular angle of entry, and there are target positions in the detection plane, associated with emitter-detector pairs, whereby for each emitter-detector pair, when an object is located at the target position, then pulses emitted by the emitter are reflected by the object into the lens corresponding to the detector at the particular angle of entry, a projector projecting an image that appears, to a user suspended in the detection plane, and a processor identifying locations of the object in the detection plane and mapping the identified locations to corresponding locations in the image, to register user interactions with the image.

Abstract: A proximity sensor, including light emitters and light detectors mounted on a circuit board, two stacked lenses, positioned above the emitters and the detectors, including an extruded cylindrical lens and a Fresnel lens array, wherein each emitter projects light through the two lenses along a common projection plane, wherein a reflective object located in the projection plane reflects light from one or more emitters to one or more detectors, and wherein each emitter-detector pair, when synchronously activated, generates a greatest detection signal at the activated detector when the reflective object is located at a specific 2D location in the projection plane corresponding to the emitter-detector pair, and a processor sequentially activating the emitters and synchronously co-activating one or more detectors, and identifying a location of the object in the projection plane, based on amounts of light detected by the detector of each synchronously activated emitter-detector pair.

Abstract: Method including providing a sensor including light emitters, photodiode detectors, and lenses arranged so as to direct light beams from light emitters exiting lenses along a detection plane, and so as to direct light beams entering lenses at a specific angle of incidence onto photodiode detectors, mounting the sensor on a display presenting virtual input controls for an electronic device, such that the detection plane resides in an airspace in front of the display, activating light emitters to project light beams through lenses along the detection plane, wherein at least one of the light beams is interrupted by a finger, detecting light reflected by the finger, identifying emitters that projected the light beam that was reflected and photodiode detectors that detected the reflected light, as emitter-detector pairs, calculating display coordinates based on target positions associated with the identified emitter-detector pairs, and transmitting the calculated display coordinates to the electronic device.

Abstract: A steering wheel that includes optoelectronic components, each specific optoelectronic component including a light projector projecting light out of the steering wheel at two different angles, denoted a1 and a2, a light sensor detecting reflections of the light projected by neighboring optoelectronic components by an object above the steering wheel, a lens oriented relative to the light sensor such that the light sensor receives maximum intensity when light enters the lens at either of two particular angles, specifically, when light enters the lens at a particular angle b1, and at a particular angle b2 different than b1, wherein angle b1 views reflections of light projected at angle a1 by the optoelectronic component neighboring the specific optoelectronic component on one side, and angle b2 views reflections of light projected at angle a2 by the optoelectronic component neighboring the specific optoelectronic component on the side opposite the one side.

Abstract: An input panel for an electronic device, including an arrangement of buttons, wherein each button is actuated when pressed, providing input to an electronic device, and a sensor, detecting location of a user's finger above the buttons, the sensor including a housing, a printed circuit board, light emitters and photodiode detectors, lenses mounted in the housing in such a manner that, when the housing is mounted along an edge of the arrangement, the lenses direct light from the emitters along a plane above the buttons, and direct light from the plane, reflected toward the lenses by an object inserted into the plane, onto the detectors, a processor configured to identify a location in the plane at which the object is inserted based on the detections of light reflected by the object, and a communications port configured to output the identified location to the electronic device.

Abstract: A steering wheel that includes optoelectronic components, each specific optoelectronic component including a light projector projecting light out of the steering wheel at two different angles, denoted a1 and a2, a light sensor detecting reflections of the light projected by neighboring optoelectronic components by an object above the steering wheel, a lens oriented relative to the light sensor such that the light sensor receives maximum intensity when light enters the lens at either of two particular angles, specifically, when light enters the lens at a particular angle b1, and at a particular angle b2 different than b1, wherein angle b1 views reflections of light projected at angle a1 by the optoelectronic component neighboring the specific optoelectronic component on one side, and angle b2 views reflections of light projected at angle a2 by the optoelectronic component neighboring the specific optoelectronic component on the side opposite the one side.

Abstract: A sensor determining coordinates of a proximal object, including a one-dimensional array of alternating light emitters and detectors, including a plurality of light emitters projecting light along a detection plane, and a plurality of light detectors detecting reflections of the projected light, by a reflective object in the detection plane, and a plurality of lenses mounted and oriented relative to the emitters and the detectors such that the light detectors receive maximum intensity when light enters a corresponding lens at a first particular angle, whereby for each emitter-detector pair, light emitted by the emitter of that pair passes through one of the lenses and is reflected by the object back through one of the lenses to the detector of that pair when the object is located at one of a set of positions in the detection plane, that position being associated with that emitter-detector pair.