Irvine Sensors Corporation

Other

Aprolase Development Co., LLC

Isc8 Inc.

Silicon Film Technologies, Inc.

Irvine Senors Corp.

Itzhak Sapir

Jonathan Michael Stern

Ying Wen Hsu

W Eric Boyd

G Jeffrey Snyder

James W Justice

Medhat Azzazy

Paul D Ronney

William B Hornback

Randy Carlson

A LIDAR system comprising a pyramidal timing polygon is having a plurality of flat optically reflective facet surfaces. The pyramidal polygon comprises a plurality of spaced apart apertures disposed about the outer circumference thereof to define the plurality of radially disposed facets. The pyramidal polygon is rigidly attached and aligned with the rotating scanning polygon structures to define a pre-defined angular shift. The rotation of the three polygon assemblies is synchronized with a pulsed laser source whereby, for each laser pulse, the individual pyramid facets are disposed at a predetermined angle, such as a 45 degree angle, with respect to the incoming beam so as to direct it along the beamreflective optical path.

Multi-polygon laser scanner comprising pyramidal timing polygon

The ACASS 3D LIDAR system operates in a fundamentally new manner combining features of flash LIDARS and scanning LIDARS simultaneously which enables mission and performance trades to be conducted by varying the sizes of illumination patches within the scenes being observed. Further the combination of these modes of operation into a single LIDAR system enables multiple modes of operation and multiple missions to be accomplished with single lasers obviating the need for multiple lasers and enabling significant simplification of beam control modes. Systems which result from the new, expanded size, weight, power, cost trade space enabled by the ACASS concept can provide new levels of performance at significantly reduced risks and costs The achievement of wide area, three dimensional imaging using a LIDAR sensor system is accomplished with one laser which operates using an eye safe fiber laser with very high puke 13 rates but very low energy per pulse.

Active continuous awareness surveillance system (ACASS): a multi-mode 3D LIDAR for diverse applications

A mechanical scanning system for the illuminating laser beam and return light in LIDAR imaging systems. The scanning system includes a flat mirror having reciprocating rotary motion around a horizontal axis for vertical scan of the illuminating laser beam and return light. The reciprocating rotary motion of the mirror is driven by a continuously rotating motor, a cam mounted on the motor and a follower connected to the mirror and driven by the cam. An encoder is connected to the mirror's shaft and provides position indication to the imaging control electronics.

LIDAR scanner apparatus

An implantable device for harvesting in-vivo blood pressure fluctuations' energy to generate electrical power for powering medical implants while avoiding the need for external power sources.

Implantable micro power generator (IMPG)

A micro-combustion power system is disclosed. The invention is comprised of a housing that further comprises two flow path volumes, each having generally opposing flow path directions and each generally having opposing configurations. Each flow path volume comprises a pre-heating volume having at least one pre-heating heat exchange structure. Each flow path volume further comprises a combustion volume having a combustion means or structure such as a catalytic material disposed therein Further, each flow path volume comprise a post-combustion volume having at least one post-combustion heat exchange structure. One or more thermoelectric generator means is in thermal communication with at least one of the combustion volumes whereby thermal energy generated by an air/fuel catalytic reaction in the combustion volume is transferred to the thermoelectric generator to convert same to electrical energy for use by an external circuit. A novel element of the invention relates to the opposing configuration and opposing flow path directions of the respective flow path volumes. The pre-heating heat exchange structure in the first flow path volume and the opposing post-combustion heat exchange structure are comprised of a shared, thermally conductive structure and material. In this embodiment, waste heat from the exhaust gas in the post-combustion chamber is thermally transferred to the opposing pre-heating volume to heat the air/fuel mixture therein to a suitable pre-combustion temperature to take advantage of waste heat while better managing thermal/cooling issues of the device during operation.

Micro-combustion power system with dual path counter-flow system

A chip scale structure fabricated from known MEMS processes is provided including a pump actuator, a pump volume, pump membrane, a valve membrane, a valve aperture, and a valve actuator. The pump actuator may include a piezoelectric or piezoceramic disk. The valve actuator may be a piezoelectric or piezoceramic disk. A manifold plate with a valve aperture is disposed between the pump membrane and the valve membrane. One or more vacuum chambers are provided along a vacuum flow path or conduit in communication with the one or more vacuum chambers. The flow path comprises an inlet port and an outlet port where the inlet port is in communication with the separately provided vacuum environment. The outlet port is in commemoration with an external environment (e.g. non or lower-vacuum environment) for exhausting gases that are pulled from the separately provided vacuum environment to a separate location.

Chip scale vacuum pump

An energy-harvesting buoy is provided comprising an air-pressure generator, such as a piezo-electric generator, or any other generator that can harvest energy from an air pressure. The energy harvesting buoy consists of a first float and a second float. An air pressure is created when relative vertical motion occurs between the first float and the second float which drives an air pressurization means such as a piston driven air pump using a linkage member pivotably mounted between the respective floats. The generator uses the air pressure from the air pressurization means to drive the generator to generate electrical power.

Energy harvesting buoy

A device for in-situ thermal imager calibration having a rotatable lens curtain with an aperture for the lens of a thermal imager to observe a scene. The lens curtain includes a balancing weight and blocking portion having a thermally uniform interior calibration surface that is rotatably disposed such that when the UAS is in level flight, the lens views the scene through the aperture. When the UAS is laterally rotated about its flight path, the lens curtain maintains its absolute position relative to the Earth by virtue of the balance weight and the lens rotates within the lens curtain for viewing a thermally uniform interior surface for calibration.

Gravity operated, rotatable lens curtain for thermal imager

Piezoelectric elements for power generation and/or actuation are described. An aspect is directed to generators utilizing piezoelectric elements for electrical power generation. Such a generator can use one or more arrays of piezoelectric cantilevers for electrical power generation in conjunction with modulated air pressure used for exciting the cantilevers. The pressure level/modulation and cantilever area can be controlled variables for maximizing the bending, and hence energy generation, of the cantilevers. A further aspect is directed to hydraulic fluid actuators utilizing a pumping mechanism that includes a piezoelectric element. The linear actuators can advantageously utilize the high force and high frequency characteristics of a piezoelectric membrane in conjunction with a large stroke and actuation direction conversion afforded by hydraulic transmission.

Forced vibration piezo generator and piezo actuator

A preferred embodiment of the MEMS cooling device of the invention comprises one or more MEMS micro-channel volumes in communication with one or more MEMS micro-pump assemblies wherein each micro-pump assembly comprises a flexure valve, such as a leaf valve and means to drive a coolant through the channel volumes such as an electrostatic interleaved comb drive structure. A preferred embodiment comprises an inlet micro-pump assembly and an outlet micro-pump assembly but the device may also be fabricated with a single pump mechanism per channel volume.

MEMS cooling device

An absolute pressure sensor is provided comprising a vibration sensing element such as a piezoelectric element disposed on a vibratable seal. The seal is disposed between two gas spring chambers which are maintained at substantially ambient pressure. The resonant vibration frequency of the seal changes and is proportional with the pressure in the gas spring chambers such that the electrical output of the piezoelectric element will be proportional to the vibration frequency. The frequency of the output of the piezoelectric element is read using suitable electronic circuitry and compared to a set of predetermined pressure/frequency data for calculation of a pressure value.

Absolute pressure sensor

An improved cryogenic compressor with piston position sensing is disclosed. Precision optical encoders using incremental or absolute encoding are incorporated into a compressor to allow for accurate position sensing of moving elements within the compressor. Appropriate electronic circuitry is used to interpret the position data to allow the user modify the frequency and stroke of the piston within the compressor. The invention may be used in systems with multiple compressor pistons or for position data for balance weights or displacers in a cryogenic refrigeration system.

Cryopump piston position tracking

A tire safety system mounts on a vehicle wheel rim inside a pneumatic tire. A tire air pressure sensor produces a tire air pressure reading mounted inside the tire. An inflatable member forms a toroidal expandable internal safety structure. The inflatable member is mounted against the vehicle wheel rim. The chemicals container inside the inflatable member receives an electrical signal at an activation input. The chemicals container creates pressurized gas inside the inflatable member for inflation when a signal is received at the activation input. A circumferential radially expandable protective belt mounted around the inflatable member expands with inflatable member inflation to accommodate operation the tire when expanded. A computer receiving tire air pressure readings from the tire air pressure sensor sends a signal to the activation input upon a sudden change in tire air pressure.

Tire safety system

A tire pressure monitoring and reporting instrument is mounted within a valve stem and has a valve cap. A single circuit can be provided having an LED, a sounder, a battery and a switch. A dual stage system, or a continuously variable system can be implemented by using a dual stage pressure switch or a continuously variable pressure switch. The battery may be housed within the cap and electrical contacts between the cap and stem allow discontinuation of the circuit or changing of the battery.

Tire pressure sensor

An electronic film cartridge includes a can section that defines an outer contour and is used to hold electronic components, and an imager assembly. The outer contour is configured so as to not completely depress at least one sensor mounted to the film compartment of a photographic camera into which the film cartridge is to be inserted. The electronic film cartridge is also configured to fit within different cameras with different dimensions between the film can area and the aperture.

Growing community of inventors

Irvine, CA, United States of America

Itzhak Sapir