Quantum Group Inc.

Other

Interval Research Corporation

Mark K Goldstein

Earl M Dolnick

Michelle S Oum

Aleksandr Sergey Kushch

John Claude Bass

Lucian E Scripca

William B Helfman

Michael Madden

Robert E Nelson

Michael McNabb

Robert L Adams

Gerhard N Schrauzer

Larry L Hench

Calvin K Adams

John W Eichenseer

Michael B Brook

William H Beatty, Jr

Michael G Apte

Louis T Montulli

Judith A Goldstein

Boris Smus

Jeffrey R LaBar

Jaeseok Ryu

Boyd S Conklin

Leo Block

Kathleen L Kerns

Vernon T Taniguchi

Alexsandr S Kushch

Geoff Smith

Deborah C Hall

Robert Banach

Larry Deshazer

Henry S Pennypacker, Jr

Gerald H Stein

A system for producing a live performance combining separate performances of remote players comprises a plurality of connected computing devices transmitting a plurality of communication streams to one another in series. The system can employ the plurality of series conceded computing devices, each for receiving and playing back an immediate predecessor communication stream from an immediate predecessor computing device, and each for capturing and transmitting a current performance along with the played back immediate predecessor communication stream. Typically, the individual performances of remote players can comprise live instrument music and/or vocals which can also include live video.

Synchronized performances for remotely located performers

A miniature lower cost optical sensing apparatus and method are provided for determining the concentration and/or hazard from a target gas by means of IR or visible photon monitoring one or more sensors that responds to carbon monoxide. The apparatus comprises a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and at least a portion of the photon intensity passing through the sensor is quantified by one or more photodiode(s) in a system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one sensor's response to the target gas, e.g., transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode. The photo current from the photodiode is converted to a sensor reading value proportional to the optical characteristics of the sensors and is loaded into a microprocessor or other logic circuit. In the microprocessor, the sensor readings may be differentiated to determine the rate of change of the sensor readings and the total photons absorbed value may be used to calculate the CO concentration and/or dose.

Carbon monoxide sensor system and related methods

The present invention is a new sensor system with catalyst for control and one with a dummy catalyst. An apparatus and method for rapidly determining the concentration of CO, water vapor, and temperature. One of the major reasons to rapidly determine a small but sudden rise CO is for fire detection. The combination of the CO, followed by rapid relative humidity rise is a clear indication of possible fire or an appliance malfunction, blocked flu or other combustion process gone awry. If the incident is accompanied by ions or particles that would be smoke from a fire. The signal from the CO determined by numerically compensating for humidity changes. Any one or two parameters could cause an increase the sensitivity of the other in a fire detector such as combination CO, relative humidity, temperature and smoke detector. Another application for rapid CO detection is in a vehicle to protect the occupants from a catastrophic CO event. The preferred embodiment by means of optically monitoring the control and CO responding sensors that respond to the CO by means monitoring the optical change to the humidity in one and humidity and CO in the other and provide a means to remove the humidity.

Dual carbon monoxide sensor system with control catalyst: new CO and humidity method and apparatus

Nano-size gas sensor systems

A device for welding together optical fiber, constructed and put into practice, according to the principles of this invention, comprises a photon source capable of transmitting photons to at a desired waveband to a desired target, e.g., a solid state part, a fiber optic cable, or a optical waveguide. The desired target, e.g., the end of an optical fiber, comprises a photon absorber material that is designed to absorb the photons emitted by the photon source. Through exposure of the photons emitted from the photon source, the absorber is caused to melt within a very short period of time for a defined period of time, during which time the desired target parts are joined and welded together. Ideally, the photon absorber material is matched to absorb photons in the same waveband as that emitted by the photon source. The device is configured to efficiently produce, focus, and deliver photons to the target area for welding.

Photon welding optical fiber with ultra violet (UV) and visible source

Gas diffusion sampling and measurement system for occupational dosimetry and air quality monitoring as exemplified by a carbon monoxide occupational dosimeter

A training aid for teaching needle biopsy of the human breast. The inventive methods use breast models having lifelike properties providing accurate tactile sensation during palpation of the breast that enable a trainee to learn to locate modeled internal lesions and similar tissues in the breast. These same properties allow learning of tactile sensations indicating relative position and motion of biopsy needles during biopsy needling procedures. To facilitate tactile learning, the breast model includes an opaque skin that blocks the trainee view of a breast cavity containing modeled lesions, ensuring that needling procedures are performed based solely on &ldquo;feel&rdquo;. The present invention also includes alternative training methods using a second breast model that is sufficiently transparent to allow viewing of modeled lesions from any relative position. The present invention includes training systems incorporating breast models and viewing stands and methods of training using these aids.

Training aids and methods for needle biopsy

A training aid for teaching fine needle biopsy of the human breast. It provides breast models having lifelike properties providing accurate tactile sensation during palpation of the breast that enable a trainee to learn to locate modeled internal lesions and similar tissues in the breast. These same properties allow learning of tactile sensations indicating relative position and motion of biopsy needles during biopsy needling procedures. To facilitate tactile learning, the breast model includes an opaque skin that blocks the trainee view of a breast cavity containing modeled lesions, ensuring that needling procedures are performed based solely on &ldquo;feel&rdquo;. A support such as a stand is provided to retain a breast model during training and to allow viewing of the breast model cavity. Optical elements, such as mirrors or video cameras are used to provide a viewing path to persons separated from a trainee. This allows real-time feedback and instruction to trainees while limiting the trainee's view of breast model internal events. The present invention also includes alternative training methods using a second breast model that is sufficiently transparent to allow viewing of modeled lesions from any relative position. The present invention includes training systems incorporating breast models and viewing stands and methods of training using these aids.

Training aid for needle biopsy

Sensor and sensor assemblies generally comprises a sensor body having a chamber disposed therein for accommodating a sensor reagent or material. The chamber is defined within the body between optically transparent body portions. The chamber is in gas flow communication with a passage used for passing a collected breath to the sensor material. A liquid or solid sensor material is disposed within the chamber and is designed to change in optical properties upon exposure to a target gas within the collected breath sample by reaction therewith. A gas permeable membrane can be disposed over the chamber opening to retain the sensor material, in the event it is liquid, and to permit the diffusion of gas from the collected breath sample to the sensor material. The sensor assembly is used with a photon source that emits photons, within a selected wavelength band, onto the chamber and sensor material, and a photon collector that is used to receive photons that exit the chamber. The photon source and photon collector can be part of the sensor assembly or can be part of a breath diagnostic assembly, of which the sensor assembly is a removable member. An optical reading means can be used to determine the change or rate of change in the optical properties, e.g., photon adsorption, of the sensor material after it is exposed to the collected breath sample. The measured change in optical properties can then be used with other gathered information, such as carbon dioxide level, to determine the level of target gas within the collected breath sample.

Sensor and sensor assembly for detecting a target gas in a breath sample

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the concentration of CO gas in a fuel reformate stream such as in a PEM fuel cell vehicle. This invention protects the fuel cell catalyst by controlling the reformate stream system to minimize the CO and reduce it by a novel catalyst system that selectively converts CO to methane but does not react with carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The catalyst may reduce the CO to methane by reaction with hydrogen. The preferred embodiment both monitors the CO by a thermal differential sensing means and an optical biomimetic sensor and or a conductivity sensor. These sensors respond to the CO gas and are monitored by one or more monitoring sensors such as the temperature and or conductivity difference between the control and the catalytic material such as nickel and in the biomimetic sensor an optical change is monitored. The optical sensing comprising a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and photodiode system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one other sensor's response to the CO gas, e.g., transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode. The photocurrent from the photodiode is converted to a digital sensor reading value proportional to the optical characteristic(s) of the sensor(s) as a function of time and the data is loaded into a microprocessor or other logic circuit. In the microprocessor, the sensor readings are essentially used to calculate the CO concentration and control the process to maximize the fuel cell or to trigger a signal for service.

Carbon monoxide detection and purification system for fuels cells

The present invention provides a means and a device to control relative humidity and airborne contaminants within a defined environment. The devices and methods of the present invention enable a user to regulate the relative humidity of a defined environment and insure that extreme conditions, e.g. less than 15% or greater than 90% relative humidity, do not exist. The air quality control system can also be used to control the relative humidity in and about a narrow range. Control over relative humidity and airborne contaminants is achieved by combining an appropriate salt and water solution, such as a saturated salt solution with a solid phase of that salt, with an isolation membrane and a getter system. The present invention is particularly useful for housing sensors, such as SIR sensors, which are sensitive to relative humidity extremes. The incorporation of a relative humidity control system with a SIR sensor results in greater stability, longer life, an increased response at relative humidity extremes, and a more uniform response over the entire range of relative humidity and temperature. Unlike conventional methods and devices, the present invention uses no power, can be open to the atmosphere, is orientation independent, and is inexpensive.

Air quality chamber: relative humidity and contamination controlled systems

A combustion device comprises a porous distributive layer, a combustion chamber disposed downstream of the porous distributive layer, and an emissive matrix in an active flame zone in the combustion chamber of the device downstream from the porous distributive layer. The emissive matrix comprises a three dimensional matrix structure made of heat absorbing, heat radiating, and heat conducting bodies. The device includes a blower for delivering a fuel/oxidizer mixture at sufficiently elevated pressure to an upstream face of the porous distributive layer to distribute the active flame zone substantially throughout the emissive matrix.

Advanced emissive matrix combustion

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for determining the concentration and/or hazard from a target gas by means of optically monitoring one or more sensors that responds to the target gas by means of an optical change. The apparatus comprises a photon source optically coupled to the sensor and the photon intensity passing through the sensor is quantified by more than one photodiode in a system, so that the photon flux is a function of at least one sensor's response to the target gas, e.g., transmits light through the sensor to the photodiode. The photocurrent from the photodiode is converted to a digital sensor reading value proportional to the optical characteristics of the sensors and is loaded into a microprocessor or other logic circuit. In the microprocessor, the sensor readings are essentially differentiated to determine the rate of change of the sensor readings. The rate of change information is used to trigger an alarm condition indicative of a predetermined level and or hazard of sensed toxins. In addition a preferred method to meet the BSI CO Standard is described using two sensor systems and two sensor on different sensitivity within one housing. The two separate sensor housing uses two LEDs and two photodiodes while the single housing dual sensor uses one LED and two photodiodes. The novel two sensor method to meet the BSI CO standard may not necessarily incorporate a digital display.

Target gas detection system with rapidly regenerating optically responding sensors

A superemissive combustion device of this invention comprises a porous distributive layer and an apparatus for delivering a fuel/oxidizer mixture to an upstream face of the porous distributive layer. A superemissive advanced emissive matrix in is disposed within an active flame zone downstream from the porous distributive layer. The emissive matrix is in the form of a three dimensional matrix of radiating bodies that is optically thin to electromagnetic radiation. The emissive matrix is either formed from or includes a coating of a superemissive material that is selected to emit photons within a predetermined wavelength range when thermally stimulated. The emitted photons are received by one or more photovoltaic cells disposed adjacent the matrix.

A system for thermally stimulating a laser emissive device comprises a thermal generating device, a photon emissive device that is capable of generating photons upon exposure to thermal energy, a laser emissive source, and an optical waveguide interposed between the photon emissive source and laser emissive source to direct photons to the laser emissive source to effect photon stimulation of the same. The waveguide may be in the form of a light pipe comprising the photon emissive material, which material is disposed within the thermal energy source. The photon emissive material is selected to produce a specific wavelength of photons that are collected within and directed through the optical waveguide to a laser rod. The photons routed to the laser rod stimulate a specific wavelength laser emission. If desired, the system can also be used with more than one target, e.g., more than one laser device, or a photovoltaic cell to produce electricity.

Growing community of inventors

Del Mar, CA, United States of America

Mark K Goldstein