Abstract: A diffraction laser encoder apparatus for positional and movement information measurement of a target made with a diffraction grating. The diffraction laser encoder has a laser light source for generating a source beam. A polarization beam splitter assembly comprises a polarization beam splitter for receiving the source beam for splitting a P-polarization component and an S-polarization component of the source beam into parallel and offset beams. A focusing lens focuses the P-polarization component and the S-polarization component beams onto the target diffraction grating and returning diffracted P-polarization and diffracted S-polarization beams back into the polarization beam splitter for generating a detector beam coaxially containing the diffracted P-polarization and the diffracted S-polarization beams. A detector assembly receives the detector beam for electrical processing and analysis for resolving the positional and movement information.

Abstract: The invention advantageously provides an alert system and method for geographic or natural disasters that utilize a telecommunications network for monitoring geographic data in disaster-prone areas and accordingly issuing warnings against potential disasters to people inside the monitored area. An alert system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a telecommunications service network, one or more wireless sensor modules and a control center. The telecommunications network according to this particular embodiment includes service coverage over the monitored areas. The wireless sensor modules are installed to selected locations inside monitored areas. Each of the sensor modules further comprises at least one sensor for collecting geographic or geodetic data and a wireless communications unit for sending collected geographic data to the control center via the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A method for fabricating piezoelectric workpieces with augmenting surface electrodes is disclosed for improving fabrication and operation reliability of the workpieces. The fabrication method forms a plurality of function electrodes on the surface of the body of the workpiece and the function electrodes being connected in the electric circuit of the piezoelectric system. At least one of the function electrodes has a shape with a contour of at least one acute angle. At least one polarization augmenting electrode is then formed on the surface of the body proximate to the acute angle, the polarization augmenting electrode and the proximate function electrode thereof constituting a gross electrode when connected electrically together. Electric dipoles of grain molecules of the body are then polarized utilizing the gross electrode, the gross electrode substantially cancels the acute angle when paired with one of the function electrodes and connected to a polarization voltage for implementing the polarization.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer apparatus is disclosed for converting electrical input energy into output for driving a load under optimized conditions. The transformer apparatus comprises at least one actuator section and at least one sensor section. The at least one actuator section has a modal-shaped electrode for optimized electrical-to-mechanical energy conversion for exciting mechanical vibration in the apparatus. The at least one sensor section has a sensor electrode with the electrical impedance of output static capacitance thereof matched to impedance of the load for optimized conversion of the energy of said excited mechanical vibration into electrical energy for driving said load.

Abstract: A diffraction laser encoder apparatus for positional and movement information measurement of a target made with a diffraction grating. The diffraction laser encoder has a laser light source for generating a source beam. A polarization beam splitter assembly comprises a polarization beam splitter for receiving the source beam for splitting a P-polarization component and an S-polarization component of the source beam into parallel and offset beams. A focusing lens focuses the P-polarization component and the S-polarization component beams onto the target diffraction grating and returning diffracted P-polarization and diffracted S-polarization beams back into the polarization beam splitter for generating a detector beam coaxially containing the diffracted P-polarization and the diffracted S-polarization beams. A detector assembly receives the detector beam for electrical processing and analysis for resolving the positional and movement information.

Abstract: Augmenting surface electrodes for piezoelectric workpieces together with the method for fabrication are disclosed for improving fabrication and operation reliability of the workpieces. A piezoelectric workpiece used for energy conversion between electrical and mechanical forms in a piezoelectric system comprises a body, a number of function electrodes, and at least an augmenting surface electrode. The body of piezoelectricity is used for implementing the energy conversion. The function electrodes are each fixedly attached to the surface of the body, and are connected in the electric circuit for implementing the energy conversion. At least one of the function electrodes has a shape with a contour of at least one acute angle. At least an augmenting surface electrode has a substantially elongated shape fixedly attached to the surface of the body proximate to the acute angle.

Abstract: The invention advantageously provides an alert system and method for geographic or natural disasters that utilize a telecommunications network for monitoring geographic data in disaster-prone areas and accordingly issuing warnings against potential disasters to people inside the monitored area. An alert system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a telecommunications service network, one or more wireless sensor modules and a control center. The telecommunications network according to this particular embodiment includes service coverage over the monitored areas. The wireless sensor modules are installed to selected locations inside monitored areas. Each of the sensor modules further comprises at least one sensor for collecting geographic or geodetic data and a wireless communications unit for sending collected geographic data to the control center via the telecommunications network.

Abstract: Augmenting surface electrodes for piezoelectric workpieces together with the method for fabrication are disclosed for improving fabrication and operation reliability of the workpieces. A piezoelectric workpiece used for energy conversion between electrical and mechanical forms in a piezoelectric system comprises a body, a number of function electrodes, and at least an augmenting surface electrode. The body of piezoelectricity is used for implementing the energy conversion. The function electrodes are each fixedly attached to the surface of the body, and are connected in the electric circuit for implementing the energy conversion. At least one of the function electrodes has a shape with a contour of at least one acute angle. At least an augmenting surface electrode has a substantially elongated shape fixedly attached to the surface of the body proximate to the acute angle.

Abstract: The invention is using the phase information contained in the diffraction light of the grating, to analyze the velocity and the displacement of the object having the grating attached. By using the relative placement of the optical elements, the entire optical scale system has high tolerance to the phase difference that is caused by the grating optical scale and the relative calibration error of the grating optical scale and the laser light head. Due to the light beam is focused on the diffraction grating, the wave-front of the signal light is relatively not impacted by the geometrical characteristics of the diffraction grating, the geometrical characteristics of the diffraction grating includes something like the interval is not even or the surface is bending. The excellent signal visibility can be obtained by applying the linear grating, radial grating, or the cylindrical grating as the grating in the design according to the present invention.

Abstract: An interference apparatus is disclosed wherein the high-visibility quadrature interference signals are obtained by making a pair of polarization beamsplitter, a 45-degree oriented quarter-waveplate and four light-beam detected photodiodes. A three-dimensional interference optical configuration is made. The test-surface light beam and reference light beams are traveled on this optical configuration. The test-surface light beam and reference light beams have orthogonally linearly polarization state with each other. After they pass through the quarter-waveplate, one right circularly polarized light beam and one left circularly polarized light beam are produced. The vector sum of these two circularly polarized light beams is again a linearly polarized light beam which is then divided into two light beams by a non-polarization beamsplitter.