Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120307239 | DYNAMIC CODED FILTER GAS DETECTION - A device for detecting gas concentrations includes a movable coded filter. An optical element is positioned to receive gas filtered light and spectrally separate the gas filtered light. A photo detector is positioned to receive the spectrally separated light through slits in the moveable coded filter to provide an AC signal representative of a selected gas. | 12-06-2012 |
20120318041 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING GAS CONCENTRATIONS - Some embodiments are directed to a photoacoustic sensor. The photoacoustic sensor may comprise: a gas cell with an opening; a light source to generate to radiate a sample gas within the gas cell; an optical microphone to detect the sample gas within the gas cell; and a membrane aligned with the opening of the gas cell to permit sample gas to enter the gas cell. The optical microphone includes a semiconducting laser. The semiconducting laser includes a p-n junction within a cavity of the semiconducting laser. The optical microphone further includes a pressure-sensitive membrane that receives coherent light emitted from the semiconducting laser and directs reflected light back toward the semiconducting laser. During operation of the optical microphone, the pressure-sensitive membrane flexes in response to acoustic pressure waves. The phase of the reflected light is dependent upon a distance of the pressure-sensitive membrane from an aperture of the semiconducting laser. | 12-20-2012 |
20120321322 | OPTICAL MICROPHONE - Some embodiments relate to an optical microphone according to an example embodiment. The optical microphone includes a semiconducting laser. The semiconducting laser includes a p-n junction within a cavity. The optical microphone further includes an acoustic membrane that receives coherent light emitted from the semiconducting laser and directs reflected light back toward the semiconducting laser. During operation of the optical microphone, the acoustic membrane flexes in response to pressure waves. The phase of the reflected light is dependent upon a distance of the acoustic membrane from the semiconducting laser. | 12-20-2012 |
20130008229 | RESONANT PHOTO ACOUSTIC SYSTEM - A device includes a resonator having an oscillating portion with dimensions chosen to lead to a desired resonant frequency. A light source is positioned to provide light along the length of the oscillating portion at a specific wave length. A detector detects a change in oscillation of the resonator responsive to the wave pressure produced by the light source heating a gas. The light source is modulated with a frequency the same as the resonant frequency of the resonator. | 01-10-2013 |
20130008230 | RESONANT PHOTO ACOUSTIC SYSTEM - A device includes a resonator having an oscillating portion with dimensions chosen to lead to a desired resonant frequency. A light source is positioned to provide light along the length of the oscillating portion at a specific wave length. A detector detects a change in oscillation of the resonator responsive to the wave pressure produced by the light source heating a gas. The light source is modulated with a frequency the same as the resonant frequency of the resonator. | 01-10-2013 |
20130027700 | TUNED DYNAMIC EIGEN SPECTROSCOPY SYSTEMS - An apparatus for detecting gas concentrations includes a coded filter to oscillate proximate a resonant frequency. A photo detector is positioned below the coded filter such that the coded filter selectively blocks light that is directed at the photo detector. Optics are positioned to project spectral information on to the coded filter. A processor analyzes a signal received from the photo detector. The processor is adapted to weight a harmonic attic signal. | 01-31-2013 |
20130063132 | LINEAR POSITION SENSOR - In general, the disclosure is directed to techniques for determining the position of a piston within a linear actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder, in a more cost effective and less labor-intensive fashion compared to current techniques for determining the position of a piston within a linear actuator. One or more magnets may be operably coupled to the piston, and a linear array of sensors may be disposed along an exterior length of the linear actuator. The sensors may measure the magnetic field generated by the magnet and, based on the measured magnetic field, may determine the location of the piston within the linear actuator. | 03-14-2013 |
20140268135 | STAND-OFF SPECTROMETRY SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Stand-off spectrometry systems and methods are described herein. One system includes a laser source configured to emit a single-spectral light, and an optical frequency comb (OFC) coupled to the laser source and configured to generate, using the single-spectral light, a multi-spectral light to determine an absorption spectrum of a substance. | 09-18-2014 |
20150053465 | THIN FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS - An approach for making thin flexible circuits. A layer of dielectric may have one or two surfaces coated with metal. The dielectric and the metal may each have a sub-mil thickness. The dielectric may be held in a fixture for fabrication like that of integrated circuits. The metal may be patterned and have components attached. More layers of dielectric and patterned metal may be added to the flexible circuit. Also bond pads and connecting vias may be fabricated in the flexible circuit. The flexible circuit may be cut into a plurality of smaller flexible circuits. | 02-26-2015 |