Abstract: Use of improved image acquisition for a medical dose preparation system. The medical dose preparation system may include a work station for capturing medical dose preparation images (e.g., to document preparation of a mediation dose). The medical dose preparation image may be captured by a video data stream processor capable of performing an auto cropping technique on a video data stream received from an image device. Accordingly, memory resources may be more efficiently employed while maintaining high quality medical dose preparation images.

Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid chamber, an upstanding wall facing a particular direction, and an inlet formed in a surface of the tank; a liquid-consuming unit consuming liquid stored in the liquid chamber; a cover rotatable between a covering position where the upstanding wall is covered with the cover and an exposure position where the upstanding wall is exposed, around a rotation axis extending in a further direction; and a casing including an engaging target part which holds the cover in the covering position, and supporting the tank, liquid-consuming unit, and cover. The cover includes: an engaging part to engage with the engaging target part in the state that the cover is in the covering position; and a tab which is subjected to an operation for releasing an engagement between the engaging part and the engaging target part.

Abstract: A liquid-consuming apparatus includes: a tank including a liquid chamber, an upstanding wall facing a particular direction, and an inlet formed in a surface of the tank; a liquid-consuming unit consuming liquid stored in the liquid chamber; a cover rotatable between a covering position where the upstanding wall is covered with the cover and an exposure position where the upstanding wall is exposed, around a rotation axis extending in a further direction; and a casing including an engaging target part which holds the cover in the covering position, and supporting the tank, liquid-consuming unit, and cover. The cover includes: an engaging part to engage with the engaging target part in the state that the cover is in the covering position; and a tab which is subjected to an operation for releasing an engagement between the engaging part and the engaging target part.

Abstract: A stop sensor for an ice machine comprising a casing made up of a base and a cover, wherein the base acts as a housing for a sensor protected by glass, and which is arranged in an electronic board which in turn houses at least electronic means which send the stop signal; a probe, a light emitting diode and a switch; and in that the cover of the casing has a hole wherein a cap is housed which protects the sensor from possible inlets of water during the operation of the machine, and wherein in turn, said hole will coincide with the area where the button of the switch is located.

Abstract: A measurement system that measures an amount of a drug solution in each needle-shaped recess of a mold in which a plurality of needle-shaped recesses are formed, or an amount of a drug after drying the drug solution, includes: a first detection unit that detects position information regarding each needle-shaped recess in a state where the drug solution does not fill the needle-shaped recess; a first measurement unit that measures a shape of the needle-shaped recess; a second detection unit that detects position information regarding a surface of the drug solution or the drug; a second measurement unit that measures a shape of the surface of the drug solution or the drug; and a calculation unit that calculates a volume of the drug solution or the drug based on the shape of the needle-shaped recess and the shape of the surface of the drug solution or the drug.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of measuring a volume of a liquid provided in at least one receptacle, including the steps of: providing a receptacle having at least one cavity for holding a liquid; providing a plenoptic camera positioned so as to be able to image the surface of the liquid; positioning the receptacle such that the liquid surface faces an objective lens of the plenoptic camera; making at least one plenoptic image of the surface of the liquid by way of the plenoptic camera; determining a surface topography of the liquid on the basis of the at least one image; calculating the volume of liquid based on the measured surface topography and at least one known dimension and/or position of the cavity.

Abstract: A potting cup is provided and is positioned on a printed circuit board. The potting cup encapsulates a portion of the printed circuit board including at least one interface subject to corrosion when exposed to moisture and is configured to receive a potting material in the encapsulated portion to cover the at least one interface subject to corrosion.

Abstract: A method of operating an electro-optic sensor includes disposing at least a portion of the electro-optic sensor in a liquid chamber, providing light from a light source of the electro-optic sensor at a first intensity, driving a light detector of the electro-optic sensor at a first sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a first amount of light from the light source; determining whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the first amount of light, providing light from the light source at a second intensity, driving the light detector at a second sensitivity level, receiving, via the light detector, a second amount of light from the light source, and/or confirming whether liquid is present in the liquid chamber according to the second amount of light. The first sensitivity level may be different from the second sensitivity level.

Abstract: A mister has an on state and an off state. A sensor detects when an air conditioner turns on. The sensor does not flex with respect to the air conditioner. A driver circuit is coupled to the sensor and the mister. The driver circuit transitions the mister from the off state to the on state when the sensor detects the air conditioner turning on.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a nested co-blindmate high-density optical switch system. The nested co-blindmate high-density optical switch system can include a system enclosure, and an enclosure midplane that is installed the system enclosure. Further, a switch chassis can be enclosed by the system enclosure, and liquid blindmate to a liquid line on a rack; optically blindmate to at least one blade in the system enclosure; and electrically blindmate to the enclosure midplane. At least one optical switch line-card can be included in the system, which is enclosed by the switch chassis, and further enclosed by the system enclosure in a nested manner. The at least one optical switch line-cards can liquid blindmate to the switch chassis, optically blindmate to the switch chassis, and electrically blindmate to the enclosure midplane.

Abstract: Methods and systems for activity monitoring include capturing an infrared image of an environment that comprises at least one patient being monitored and at least one infrared-emitting tag. A relationship between the patient being monitored and the at least one infrared-emitting tag is determined. An activity conducted by the patient being monitored is determined based on the relationship between the patient being monitored and the at least one infrared-emitting tag. A course of treatment for the patient being monitored is adjusted based on the determined activity.

Abstract: A method for determining the refractive index profile of a preform is provided.

Abstract: A device comprises a fixed element, a mobile element, a physical measurement sensor secured to the mobile element and a link allowing a transmission of information between the sensor and the fixed element, the sensor generating a primary signal representative of the physical measurement. The device further comprises a converter of the primary signal into a light signal. The converter is secured to the mobile element. The link is an optical path. The light signal is propagated freely between the fixed element and the mobile element along the optical path. The sensor comprises a power supply module receiving energy from the fixed element without contact.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes at least one housing enclosing a reservoir configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition, and a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. The aerosol delivery device includes a light source configured to emit light into the reservoir, and a photodetector configured to detect a reflection of the light, and that indicates an amount of aerosol precursor composition retained in the reservoir. And the aerosol delivery device includes a control component coupled to the photodetector and configured to control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device based on the reflection, and thereby the amount of aerosol precursor composition.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates, in one embodiment, to an oil sight apparatus. The oil sight may include a sight body with a chamber defined in the sight body. The chamber may include a top, a bottom, and a sidewall spanning from the top to the bottom. A separator may be located in the chamber. The separator may be configured to sink in oil and to float in water such that the separator may rest at an oil-water separation line in the chamber.

Abstract: Complete nucleic acid library preparation devices are provided. Aspects of the devices include: a thermal chip module comprising multiple nodes; one or more plate locations; a robotically controlled liquid handler configured to transfer liquid between the one or more plate locations and the thermal chip module; and a bulk reagent dispenser configured to access each node of the thermal chip module.

Abstract: A thermal tag for activity monitoring. The thermal tag includes a base layer having a plurality of metal lines to provide a conductive path, and a pattern layer having one or more infrared emitting features positioned over portions of the conductive path, wherein at least one infrared emitting feature couples to the conductive path to emit a predetermined infrared pattern in accordance with nearby activity.

Abstract: Provided are an optical switch, an optical probe including the optical switch, and a medical imaging apparatus including the optical probe. The optical probe includes a probe body that is configured to be insertable into a body cavity, and an optical switch that is disposed in the probe body and includes a first region formed of a material having a first refractive index, and a second region that forms an interface with the first region and is configured to have a fluid is introduced into the second region, wherein the optical switch is configured to change a path of propagation of incident light according to a second refractive index of the second region.

Abstract: A medical device fluid sensing system in provided. The system includes a transmitter array positioned in association with a fluid maintaining device, such as a reservoir in a cassette. Electrical circuitry is connected to the transmitter array and configured to cause the transmitter array to transmit light energy at a predetermined wavelength and producing a desired absorption coefficient based on expected conditions within the fluid maintaining device. The system also includes a receiver array configured to receive light energy transmitted through the fluid maintaining device and originating from the transmitter array, and a controller configured to determine fluid level in the fluid maintaining device based on conditions sensed by the receiver array. In one embodiment, three transmitters and three matching sensors are provided in a surgical cassette, and when optical energy having predetermined characteristics is provided to the transmitter array, the presence or absence of fluid is determined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to nanostructured light emitting diodes, LEDs. The nanostructure LED device according to the invention comprises an array of a plurality of individual nanostructured LEDs. Each of the nanostructured LEDs has an active region wherein light is produced. The nanostructured device further comprise a plurality of reflectors, each associated to one individual nanostructured LED (or a group of nanostructured LEDs. The individual reflectors has a concave surface facing the active region of the respective individual nanostructured LED or active regions of group of nanostructured LEDs.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring liquid volume in a container includes a plurality of light sources for emitting electromagnetic radiation (EMR) toward the container, a plurality of sensors optically coupleable to the plurality of light sources, each sensor of the plurality of sensors for detecting the EMR emitted by at least a portion of the plurality of light sources, a temperature sensor for measuring at least one temperature associated with a liquid in the container, and at least one processor for receiving data representative of the portion of the detected EMR from each of the plurality of sensors, comparing the at least one measured temperature to a temperature guideline to identify any temperature events associated with the received data; normalizing the received data based on any temperature events associated with the received data; and converting the normalized data into a signature representative of the EMR detected by the plurality of sensors.

Abstract: An electro-optic liquid sensor may include a light source, an light detector, a prism, and a reflective optical member. The optical member may be arranged to reflect light emitted by the light source to the light detector when a liquid is disposed between the light source and the optical member. The electro-optic sensor may enable assessment of its operational state in the presence of liquid, thus improving on known electro-optic liquid sensors.

Abstract: A device and system are disclosed for sensing ambient temperature. The device includes a housing having an exterior surface and an interior surface, a channel, formed through an opening in the housing from the exterior surface to the interior surface, a conductive element, thermally responsive to ambient air entering the channel, comprising an external surface and an internal surface, and a sensor situated within the housing and thermally coupled to the conductive element, wherein the sensor determines the ambient temperature of the device based at least on a detected temperature of the conductive element.

Abstract: An airplane fuel level optical sensor using one side-emitting plastic optical fiber (SPOF) and two fluorescent plastic optical fibers (FPOFs) to detect the airplane fuel level without using any electrically conductive component or element placed inside the fuel tank. This dual-FPOF sensor is capable of achieving high resolution and high accuracy with a one-time calibration in the actual airplane's fuel tank environment. One embodiment of the dual-FPOF sensor uses one SPOF and two FPOFs to detect fuel level change based on the optical signal output from the two FPOFs. The sensor design uses large-diameter (core and cladding), lightweight, low-cost and high-durability plastic optical fiber, which is very desirable for airplane installation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for dispensing a liquid, including a vertically arranged, translucent pipe for guiding the liquid, wherein the pipe has an upper section and a lower section, wherein an inner diameter of the upper section is greater than an inner diameter of the lower section, at least two light barriers for detecting a rise in the liquid over two defined levels in the pipe, wherein a first light barrier detects a rise in the liquid in the upper section of the pipe, and wherein a second light barrier detects a rise in the liquid in the lower section of the pipe.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for detecting wall abrasion of a solid-filling feeding well and a detection method thereof. The device comprises a well wall abrasion detector, a horizontal displacement meter, a vertical displacement monitor, and a limit guide rod. One end of the limit guide rod is connected to the well wall abrasion detector. The signal output terminal of the well wall abrasion detector is connected to the signal input terminal of the horizontal displacement meter, and the other end of the limit guide rod passes through the vertical displacement monitor for slidable setting. This disclosure mainly utilizes a resistance strain displacement sensor to detect the abrasion and deformation degree of the well wall, determines the position of damages with the vertical displacement monitor, and draws wall abrasion curves by using the obtained data.

Abstract: Use of improved image acquisition for a medical dose preparation system. The medical dose preparation system may include a work station for capturing medical dose preparation images (e.g., to document preparation of a mediation dose). The medical dose preparation image may be captured by a video data stream processor capable of performing an auto cropping technique on a video data stream received from an image device. Accordingly, memory resources may be more efficiently employed while maintaining high quality medical dose preparation images.

Abstract: A liquid cartridge includes a liquid supply port configured to provide communication between an interior and an exterior of the liquid cartridge, a first wall having the liquid supply port, and a second wall spaced from the first wall. A first storage chamber is between the first and second walls, and a second storage chamber is between the first and second walls communicating with both the liquid supply port and the first storage chamber. A prism is in the second storage chamber, and the prism has an inclined surface configured to change the state of received light in response to a level of liquid contained in the second storage chamber. The prism is positioned between the first and second walls and above the first storage chamber.

Abstract: An electronic liquid level gauge assembly includes an electronic display located in a housing connected to a tank. The display has first and second display portions for indicating liquid level condition. A first electronic sensor senses a change in magnetic field of a magnet associated with a liquid level transducer, with magnet rotation being proportional liquid level change. A processor determines a temperature-compensated liquid level condition by correlating the liquid level signal with temperature measurement of the liquid. A temperature-compensated vapor space can also be calculated based on tank information and properties of the liquid. Signals related to the temperature-compensated liquid level and vapor space are sent to the display and wirelessly transmitted to a smart phone or the like for remotely viewing the tank information. The smart phone also includes a special app for sending information, firmware updates, and display configuration data to the electronic gauge assembly.

Abstract: A feeding device for feeding an optical fiber from a coil and for recoiling unused fiber for use in an apparatus for measuring the temperature of a melt is provided. The feeding device includes a support for a coil, a feeding mechanism for decoiling the optical fiber from the coil and recoiling the optical fiber, at least one motor for driving the feeding mechanism, and a load for the optical fiber which avoids a spring back effect of the optical fiber from the coil. Blockage is avoided when decoiling and recoiling the optical fiber from the coil.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining a value that represents an amount of liquid in a vessel, wherein the vessel is configured to be a tube or a cuvette. The vessel for the liquid is basically transparent, with at least one radiation unit, that is arranged alongside the longitudinal axis of the vessel and that radiates light into the vessel, as well as at least one light detector with at least one light receiver that is assigned to the radiation unit and that receives the light that is coming through the vessel and forwards it to the light detector. The apparatus comprises a data processing unit that determines the value that represents the amount of the liquid in the vessel from the light that was detected by the light detector. The apparatus is characterized in that the light detector detects the sum total of the light that was radiated through the vessel and was received by all light receivers. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the apparatus in an analyzer.

Abstract: A device for evaluating the foaming property of a gas-soluble surfactant, which comprises a gas source part, an evaluating kettle, a liquid part, and an intermediate container part. The rotation of the evaluating kettle, the gas-soluble surfactant and the supercritical carbon dioxide can be sufficiently and evenly mixed with each other when the solubility of the gas-soluble surfactant in the supercritical carbon dioxide is measured.

Abstract: The circuit of the present invention comprises a detection module and a feedback module, wherein an output end of a power supply management module is coupled to one end of a voltage level shift module, and the other end of the voltage level shift module is coupled to a first end of the detection module, and a second end of the detection module is coupled to a WOA route module or a GOA route module, and a third end of the detection is coupled to one end of the feedback module, and the other end of the feedback module is coupled to an enable end of the power supply management module, and the detection module detects whether the WOA route module or the GOA route module is short, and feeds back a short signal; the feedback module receives the short signal, and sends a disable signal to the enable end.

Abstract: A body fluid test system includes a test chip, an image capturing device, a moving mechanism for test tube and at least one fluid transfer device. The image capturing device is for capturing image of the test chip. The moving mechanism includes a base and a test tube carrier. The test tube carrier is movably disposed on the base. The test tube carrier is for carrying at least one test tube. One end of the fluid transfer device corresponds to the top of the test tube carrier, and another end of the fluid transfer device corresponds to the test chip. The test tube carrier is movable upwardly from a pre-testing position to a testing position. When the test tube carrier is at the testing position, the fluid transfer device is for transferring a body fluid sample contained in the at least one test tube to the test chip.

Abstract: An implantable device for measuring biological information of a body is provided, wherein the implantable device includes a receiver for receiving electromagnetic energy and converting the electromagnetic energy into electrical energy; a storage capacitor associated with the receiver such that the electrical energy from the receiver is stored in the storage capacitor; a biological sensor; a processing device; and a transmitter, wherein the biological sensor, processing device and transmitter are configured to receive electrical energy from the storage capacitor, and wherein the biological sensor, processing device and transmitter are configured such that when the receiver is receiving electromagnetic energy, the biological sensor, processing device and transmitter are inactive and when the receiver is not receiving electromagnetic energy, the biological sensor, processing device and transmitter are inactive.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring a level of a liquid such as fuel and/or water in a tank such as a fuel tank. The sensor includes a stack of capacitors, each capacitor with one or more graphene measurement electrodes and one or more graphene reference electrodes. A measurement system is arranged to measure a capacitance of each capacitor between its measurement electrode(s) and its reference electrode(s) and thereby infer the liquid level. The graphene measurement and reference electrodes are formed in a single layer of graphene oxide by reductive etching.

Abstract: A measuring device (10) and a measurement method measure a concentration of gaseous/aerosol components of a gas mixture. A reaction carrier (14) has a flow channel (42) defining a reaction chamber (46) having a optically detectable reaction material (48), that reacts with a gas mixture component or with a reaction product. The measuring device (12) includes a gas-conveying assembly (2) with a gas-conveying apparatus (28) conveying the gas mixture and a detection assembly (3), which has a lighting apparatus (37) for lighting the reaction chamber (46), an optical sensor (38) for sensing the optically detectable reaction, and an evaluating unit (4) evaluating sensor data and determining a concentration of the component of the gas mixture. The detection assembly (3) senses a speed of a reaction front (6) propagating in the flow direction in the reaction chamber (46) and determines a preliminary concentration from the speed of the reaction front (6).

Abstract: An optical spectral sensing device for determining at least one property of a fluid. The device has an elongated porous body, a first end and a second end, a solid-state optical emitter at the first end of the body oriented to emit radiation toward the second end of the body, and a solid-state optical detector at the second end of the body oriented to detect radiation emitted by the optical emitter and to output a signal responsive to absorption of radiation. The device is configured to determine depth of a fluid based on the signal output by the optical detector.

Abstract: A new multiparameter device for measuring by optical means, the level of filling of tanks and reservoirs for liquids and liquefied products, index of refraction and image analysis, without moving parts, which is more specifically intended, but without restrictions of application, for the measuring the level of a liquid in a reservoir, besides being able to make possible the distinction and detection of the type of liquid included in this reservoir, by measuring the index of refraction and image analysis of these liquids, performing this task in a simple, practical and efficient manner through a specific configuration utilizing optical and electronic means, without use of moving parts, what allows that the same may be used for numerous applications between them, for the fuel quality control, the fuel identification, the measuring of the index of refraction, flow measurement, color measurement, temperature measurement and pressure measurement, inter alia, and more specifically for application in the automotive

Abstract: A system and a process for detecting oil quality includes a light source configured to generate light within an oil container and a sensor configured to detect light from the light source after it has traversed through the oil in the oil container and generate an output signal. The system and process further includes a monitor configured to receive the output signal from the sensor and determine an oil quality of an oil in the oil container.

Abstract: A developer detector includes a sensor housing portion, an optical sensor, and a cleaning portion. The sensor housing portion can be installed on a wall surface of a hopper storing a developer. The sensor housing portion includes a detection surface, and a step surface protruding a smaller amount from the wall surface than the detection surface to form a step height from the detection surface. The optical sensor is housed in the sensor housing portion and detects the developer through the detection surface. The cleaning portion moves in a moving region including a first region facing the detection surface and a second region facing the step surface and cleans the detection surface on the way of moving. The cleaning portion includes a flexible member and makes the flexible member slide on the detection surface while making the flexible member contact the detection surface under pressure in the first region.

Abstract: An ink tank 25A includes an ink containing portion 120, an ink injection portion 113, an ink supply portion 117, and a pair of electrode pins 140a and 140b. The ink containing portion 120 has a visual check portion 114 that enables the position of the liquid surface of ink contained in the ink containing portion 120 to be visually checked from the outside in a reference posture, which is a posture at the time when the ink is supplied from the ink tank 25 to the print head portion 32. The ink supply portion 117 is connected to a lower portion 122A located below a lower end of the visual check portion 114 in the reference posture. Leading end portions 143a and 143b of the electrode pins 140a and 140b are arranged in the lower portion 122A.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a substrate having at least one exposed metal surface. The method also includes electro-depositing metal onto the at least one exposed metal surface of the substrate and around at least a portion of an optical fiber to secure the optical fiber to the substrate. The substrate and the electro-deposited metal are configured to remove heat from the optical fiber. The method could further include electro-depositing metal around a sacrificial material and removing the sacrificial material to form at least one cooling channel through the electro-deposited metal. The optical fiber could include a polymer coating, where a portion of the polymer coating is removed at an end of the optical fiber. The substrate and the electro-deposited metal could be faceted at an input of the optical fiber and at an output of the optical fiber. The optical fiber could have a coiled arrangement on the substrate.

Abstract: A device for detecting the concentration of a given component in a solution, preferably the concentration of urea in solution with water includes a means for emitting radiation, at least one means for receiving radiation, which is prearranged for determining at least one characteristic of the radiation, and a light guide, which is prearranged for optically connecting the emitting means to the receiving means, wherein the light guide has at least one surface that is to come into contact with the solution so as to determine an interface of separation between the propagation medium and the solution. Control means are configured for obtaining a value indicating the concentration of the compound in the solution as a function of the signal coming from the receiving means.

Abstract: An optical sensor enables a level of reflective fluid to be detected. The optical sensor includes a prism mounted at one end of a housing. The prism has an exterior surface that is parallel to the end of the housing and a width that corresponds to a width of the end of the housing. A photoemitter and a photodetector are mounted at another end of the housing to enable light emitted by the photoemitter to be reflected by the prism when the prism contacts reflective fluid and to enable light emitted by the photoemitter to pass out of the sensor when the prism is in contact with air.

Abstract: An oil detection device for a compressor to detect at least two levels of oil in the compressor includes a first detection unit including a first reference electrode and a first detection electrode disposed at both sides of the first reference electrode, and a second detection unit including a second reference electrode spaced from the first reference electrode and a second detection electrode disposed at both sides of the second reference electrode.

Abstract: Use of improved image acquisition for a medical dose preparation system. The medical dose preparation system may include a work station for capturing medical dose preparation images (e.g., to document preparation of a mediation dose). The medical dose preparation image may be captured by a video data stream processor capable of performing an auto cropping technique on a video data stream received from an image device. Accordingly, memory resources may be more efficiently employed while maintaining high quality medical dose preparation images.

Abstract: A system including a container, an imaging structure, an image capturing device, and a processor. The container at least partially surrounds a liquid. The liquid has a liquid surface that is defined by a quantity of the liquid in the container, a shape of the container, and an orientation of the container relative to a horizontal plane. The imaging structure is positioned in the container. The image capturing device captures an image of the liquid surface and the imaging structure. The processor is in communication with the image capturing device for analyzing a characteristic of the image, and for determining an attribute therefrom.

Abstract: A tamper detection system for a utility meter includes an emitter configured to emit light and a detector configured to receive light. The tamper detection system also includes a light modifying feature coupled to an interior surface of a meter cover. An end portion of the light modifying feature is configured to be positioned proximate to the emitter and the detector while the meter cover is in a closed position relative to the utility meter. The light modifying feature is also configured to alter a direction of travel of the emitted light and to direct the emitted light toward the detector while the meter cover is in the closed position relative to the utility meter.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting a pathogen in a sample is provided, the system capable of measuring the volume of a sample in a container through the use of various measurement technologies, thereby ensuring that a user is aware of volumes not meeting specification and/or allowing correction of results to account for the out-of-specification sample.