Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080281185 | REMOTE MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A remote control system for a modulatable device is provided. The remote control system comprises a receiver system coupled to the modulatable device and configured to obtain an output characteristic of the modulatable device, the receiver system being located remotely with respect to the modulatable device. The system further comprises a command signal setting system coupled to the receiver system and configured to use the output characteristic to generate a drive command signal and a bias system coupled to the command signal setting system and configured to receive the drive command signal and set a bias point of the modulatable device based on the drive command signal. The bias system is located locally with respect to the modulatable device. The command signal setting system and the bias system are coupled via a first optical conduit. | 11-13-2008 |
20090050792 | Optically powered drive circuit and method for controlling a semiconductor switch - An optically powered drive circuit and a method for controlling a first semiconductor switch are provided. The optically powered drive circuit includes a photovoltaic cell configured to receive a first light signal from a fiber optic cable and to output a first voltage in response to the first light signal. The optically powered drive circuit further includes an energy storage device electrically coupled to the photovoltaic cell configured to store electrical energy received from the first voltage and to output a second voltage. The optically powered drive circuit further includes an electrical circuit electrically coupled to both the photovoltaic cell and the energy storage device. The electrical circuit is energized by the second voltage. The electrical circuit is configured to receive the first voltage and to output a third voltage in response to the first voltage for controlling operation of the first semiconductor switch. | 02-26-2009 |
20090103160 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FORMING HIGH PERFORMANCE INTEGRATED RF OPTICAL MODULE - An integrated electro-optical module apparatus includes in one embodiment an optical modulator configured to modulate an input optical signal coupled thereto; and a control circuit assembly configured to provide electrical control signals to the optical modulator to modulate the input optical signal; wherein the control circuit assembly is attached to the optical modulator in a stacked arrangement. | 04-23-2009 |
20090245735 | PHOTONIC POWER DEVICES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A high temperature optoelectronic device package includes a substrate, an optoelectronic die situated on an upper surface of the substrate, a seal surrounding the optoelectronic die and situated on the upper surface of the substrate and a housing disposed on the seal having a ferrule-seating portion. The housing is disposed on the seal such that a fiber optic center of the ferrule-seating portion is aligned with an active portion of the optoelectronic die. The optoelectronic die is in operative communication with electronic traces of the substrate. | 10-01-2009 |
20100104060 | OPTICAL GAMMA THERMOMETER - An optical gamma thermometer includes a metal mass having a temperature proportional to a gamma flux within a core of a nuclear reactor, and an optical fiber cable for measuring the temperature of the heated metal mass. The temperature of the heated mass may be measured by using one or more fiber grating structures and/or by using scattering techniques, such as Raman, Brillouin, and the like. The optical gamma thermometer may be used in conjunction with a conventional reactor heat balance to calibrate the local power range monitors over their useful in-service life. The optical gamma thermometer occupies much less space within the in-core instrument tube and costs much less than the conventional gamma thermometer. | 04-29-2010 |
20100128454 | Optical waveguide EMI shield - A circuit board assembly is configured to attenuate and prevent electromagnetic fields from interfering with operation below a desired cutoff frequency, of electromagnetic interference (EMI) susceptible circuit board electronics disposed within a shielded enclosure, while allowing signals to be transmitted between the EMI susceptible circuit board electronics at frequencies below the desired cutoff frequency, and circuits or devices external to the shielded enclosure. | 05-27-2010 |
20100156629 | MEMS DEVICES AND REMOTE SENSING SYSTEMS UTILIZING THE SAME - A remote sensing system comprises a micro-electromechanical sensor (MEMS) device comprising a sensing element, an exciting element to resonate the sensing element at resonant frequency from a remote location by transmitting signals comprising any of acoustic signals, optical signals, radio frequency signals, or magnetic induction signals, and a reader circuitry to read an original frequency of the sensing element from a remote location for determining a condition to which the MEMS device is exposed using signals comprising any of acoustic signals, optical signals, radio frequency signals, or magnetic induction signals. | 06-24-2010 |
20100189444 | OPTICAL MEMS DEVICE AND REMOTE SENSING SYSTEM UTILIZING THE SAME - A remote sensing system comprises a micro-electromechanical sensor (MEMS) device comprising an optical energy absorbing sensing element that resonates by thermal expansion induced by absorption of optical signals, a remotely located optical source for transmitting driving optical signals to induce resonation in the sensing element, and a remotely located reader circuitry to read an original frequency of the sensing element using reader optical signals for determining a condition to which the MEMS device is exposed. | 07-29-2010 |
20100237227 | OPTICALLY GATED MEMS SWITCH - An optically powered MEMS gate driver includes a photovoltaic converter configured to receive a light signal from a light source and output a DC supply voltage for a MEMS gate driver in response thereto. The MEMS gate driver further includes a DC to DC converter electrically coupled to the photovoltaic converter and configured to output a line level DC voltage in response to the DC supply voltage. An electrical circuit, also included as a portion of the MEMS gate driver is electrically coupled to both the photovoltaic converter and the DC to DC converter is configured to receive the supply voltage and the line level voltage and to output a line level drive signal in response thereto. The optically powered MEMS gate driver is self-contained within a common EMI enclosure thus providing isolation between the gate driver and command signal electronics. | 09-23-2010 |
20100245840 | SELF-CALIBRATED INTERROGATION SYSTEM FOR OPTICAL SENSORS - An optical pressure sensor interrogation system is provided. The system includes a light source for providing an optical signal to an optical pressure sensor and an optical coupler for receiving a reflected signal from the optical pressure sensor. The optical coupler splits the reflected signal and provides a first portion of the reflected signal to a first optical detector. The system further includes a filter for receiving a second portion of the reflected signal and providing a filtered signal to a second optical detector and a processing circuitry configured to obtain pressure based on a division or a subtraction of light intensities of the first and the second optical detector output signals. The processing circuitry is further configured to provide a feedback signal to the light source to control a wavelength of the optical signal | 09-30-2010 |
20110018483 | STATOR END-WINDING COMPONENT MONITORING SYSTEM - A stator comprises stator end-winding components and a sensing cable. The sensing cable comprises two fixation points secured to two of the end-winding components, and sensors to measure a relative displacement between two or more of the stator end-winding components. | 01-27-2011 |
20110118982 | System and Method for Detecting Lightning Strikes Likely To Affect A Condition of A Structure - A lightning detection system and method for detecting a lightning strike are provided. The system includes a lightning detector in a structure susceptible to a lightning strike. The lightning detector includes a data logger configured to log data indicative of a time of occurrence of the lightning strike. The system further includes memory to store data collected from a wide-area lightning detection network. The stored data includes at least one characteristic of the lightning strike. A processor may be configured to process data from the data logger relative to data collected from the wide-area lightning detection network to determine correlated data indicative of a lightning strike affecting the structure. In the event correlated data is determined, the processor may be configured to assign the characteristic of the lightning strike to the structure. | 05-19-2011 |
20110130991 | PHASE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method to identify phase is presented. The method includes obtaining electrical parameters at a node and a substation of an electrical grid, processing the electrical parameters of the node and the substation into processed electrical parameters comprising at least one of a voltage harmonic amplitude, a current harmonic amplitude, a geometric harmonic modulated signal, and a noise pattern. The method further includes comparing the processed electrical parameters from the node and the substation and identifying phase information of the node with respect to the substation. | 06-02-2011 |
20110130992 | PHASE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A phase identification system is proposed. The system includes a sensor coupled to a terminal of a distribution transformer. A processor is coupled to the sensor for processing phase information of the terminal, wherein the sensor and the processor are embedded within a bushing unit on the distribution transformer. The processor is further configured to identify and display phase information at the distribution transformer. | 06-02-2011 |
20110211795 | HERMETICALLY SEALED FIBER SENSING CABLE - In one aspect, the present invention provides a hermetically sealed fiber sensing cable comprising: a core fiber comprising at least one Bragg grating region, an outer surface and a length; a fiber cladding in contact with the core fiber along the entire length of the core fiber, the fiber cladding having an outer surface and a length; a carbon layer disposed upon the outer surface of the fiber cladding along the entire length of the fiber cladding, the carbon layer comprising diamond-like carbon; a hydrogen ion absorption layer in contact with the carbon layer, the hydrogen ion absorption layer being disposed on the outer surface of the carbon layer; and an outer sleeve. Also provided in another aspect of the present invention, is a component for a hermetically sealed fiber sensing cable. | 09-01-2011 |
20110265575 | System for estimating a condition of non-conductive hollow structure exposed to a lightning strike - A system is provided for estimating a condition of a non-conductive hollow structure exposed to a lightning strike. The structure has an internal cavity. The system includes a pressure transducer to measure a pressure of an acoustic wave generated within the internal cavity due to the lightning strike. The system further includes a controller coupled to the pressure transducer, to receive the measured pressure from the pressure transducer, and to process the condition of the structure, based on the measured pressure. | 11-03-2011 |
20110285382 | POWER METER PHASE IDENTIFICATION - Methods and systems are described for determining a phase of transmitted voltage. In one embodiment, a power distribution system may operate to transmit voltage and an injected signal. The system may also include a power meter that may receive the voltage and injected signal. The power meter may determine a phase of the received voltage based on the received voltage and the injection signal. | 11-24-2011 |
20120075633 | ELECTRICAL MACHINE COMPONENT MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An electrical machine component monitoring system includes a light source that provides an optical signal through a fiber optic cable and a fiber optic sensing component positioned on the electrical machine component or at a standoff distance from the electrical machine component to obtain a responsive optical signal representative of a condition of the electrical machine component. The system further includes a photodetector to receive the responsive optical signal from the fiber optic sensing component and to convert the responsive optical signal to an electrical signal. A processing circuitry is also provided in the system for determining information regarding dirt on the electrical machine component by analyzing the electrical signal. | 03-29-2012 |
20120154821 | SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A RELATIVE DISPLACEMENT OF COMPONENTS - A system is provided for monitoring a relative displacement of a pair of end-winding components. The system includes a structure mounted to the end-winding components at an angle with respect to the end-winding components for monitoring the relative displacement. The system further includes an optical fiber with a first portion including a fiber Bragg grating mounted to a surface of the structure to experience a strain resulting from a strain of the structure due to the relative displacement. The optical fiber includes a second portion internally routed through in the structure to the first portion mounted to the surface. The structure is configured so that the strain produced by the structure limits a magnitude of the strain of the fiber Bragg grating within a predetermined range over a span of the relative displacement of the end-winding components. | 06-21-2012 |
20130162985 | REMOTE MONITORING OF TIGHTNESS OF STATOR WINDINGS - A system for monitoring tightness of stator windings in an electric machine is provided. The system includes a light source for providing an optical power. The system also includes an optical separation sensor situated in a stator core and including an optical interface element for absorbing some of the optical power. Further, the system includes a power meter for measuring at least one intensity of the optical power after absorption by the optical interface element and a control subsystem for assessing the tightness of the stator windings. | 06-27-2013 |
20130163915 | DISTRIBUTED, MULTIPLEXED FIBER OPTIC CURRENT TRANSDUCER USING OPTICAL POWER DIVISION - A measurement system includes a broadband light source that outputs a broadband light, an optical splitter that divides the broadband light into a plurality of divided light beams and a plurality of optical sensors, each optical sensor configured to receive a single one of the divided light beams and measure an electrical parameter of a conductor. | 06-27-2013 |
20140139841 | FIBER OPTIC SENSING APPARATUS INCLUDING FIBER GRATINGS AND METHOD FOR SENSING PARAMETERS INVOLVING DIFFERENT PARAMETER MODALITIES - Optical-based apparatus and method for sensing parameters in connection with an asset, such as a pipeline, are provided. At least two sites in an optical fiber may include a respective fiber grating arranged to have a respective optical response in a wavelength spectrum having a distinguishing feature indicative of a value of a respective local parameter at a respective grating site. The two fiber gratings may be further arranged to form, in combination with a respective portion of the optical fiber which extends between the two sites, respective optical backscatter portions that when combined with one another are effective to sense an optical change in the fiber portion between the sites indicative of a value of a distributed parameter. This is a parameter modality different from a parameter modality of the respective local parameters at the respective grating sites. | 05-22-2014 |
20140167972 | ACOUSTICALLY-RESPONSIVE OPTICAL DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM FOR SENSOR DATA - A sensing and data acquisition system may provide a sensing assembly including a signal conditioner to receive an electrical signal from a sensor affixed onto an asset and supply an encoded digital representation of a sensed parameter. An acoustic modem may be connected to the signal conditioner to receive the encoded digital representation of the sensed parameter and transmit an acoustic signal based on the encoded digital representation of the sensed parameter. A data acquisition line may be proximate to the asset and may be non-contactively coupled to the sensing assembly. The data acquisition line may include an optical fiber acoustically coupled to the acoustic modem and responsive to the encoded digital representation of the sensed parameter transmitted by the modem to effect an optical change in an acoustically-responsive portion of the fiber. The optical change may be measurable to detect the encoded digital representation of the sensed asset parameter. | 06-19-2014 |
20140185056 | FIBER OPTIC SENSOR FOR POSITION SENSING - A system for sensing the position of a movable object includes a polarization maintaining fiber configured to receive light from a light source; an optical system configured to rotate an angle of polarization of the light by a first predetermined angle; a low birefringence fiber connected to the optical system at a first end and having a mirror connected to a second end configured to reflect the light and rotate the angle of polarization at a second predetermined angle, the second end being configured to overlap a magnetic field of the a magnet attached to the object. The angle of polarization is rotated to a third predetermined angle proportional to at least one of the strength of the magnetic field and an amount of the overlap. The optical system is configured to decompose the third predetermined angle into a first component and a second component. A detector is configured to detect a differential between the first and second components indicative of the amount of the overlap. | 07-03-2014 |
20150049981 | FIBER OPTIC SENSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SENSING PARAMETERS INVOLVING DIFFERENT PARAMETER MODALITIES - An optical-based sensing apparatus and method are provided. A sensing apparatus ( | 02-19-2015 |